DOCUMENT 53876
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 192, 6 Jan 1945, Kempernich, Germany. Briefing was at 0430 hours, and all aircraft were airborne by 0913. One ship aborted with engine trouble and two of the three spares returned early as planned. By 1512 hours all operational aircraft had returned, Flying Control noting: "Landings made under poor conditions, average visibility 1000 yards". The three squadrons of the 401st made up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group on this mission, designed to interdict German communications supporting their front line troops. Because of solid cloud cover, bombing was conducted in Group formation by Gee-H (radio beam) technique, thereby blanketing the target area. Results could not be observed. As no enemy fighters and no flak were encountered, the Group suffered no battle damage or casualties.
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dynamite John
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hard Seventeen, Hard Luck
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: D-Day Dottie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ice Cold Katy
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Locations
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Mission
- Date: 6 January 1945