Mission No. 23
Date – November 10, 1944
Assigned Target – Airfield, North Side of Cologne, Germany
Target Attacked – As briefed
Results – Unobserved (GH)
Aircraft Number – 975 (GH)
Bombs – 42 100 lb. General Purpose
Position in Formation – Wing Lead
Time – 7 hrs. 15 min.
Altitude over Target – 27,000'
Casualties – None
Damage – Minor flak damage; approximately 20 holes
Losses – Lt. Magness and Crew, Ship No. 8730-R
Loading List
C. A. – Major Petersen, Tracy J.
Pilot – Capt. Arlin, A. A.
Bomb. – 1st Lt. Baxter, M. V.
Nav. – Capt. Pickett, Paul E.
Nav. – 1st Lt. Ryan, Michael P., Jr.
Mickey – 1st Lt. Meyers, Thomas E.
Eng. – T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J.
Radio – T/Sgt. Ruff, C. F.
L. W. – S/Sgt. Wilson, W. C.
R. W. – S/Sgt. Carter, C. M.
Tail – S/Sgt. Hoffman, A. W.
Editor's Note: G. H. is an abbreviation for Gee-H, a navigational method of bombing through the clouds. The aircraft was directed by the navigator during bombing. Many of the 398th missions used Gee-H bombing.
Mission No. 23
Date – November 10, 1944
Take-off and assembly were as briefed. We assembled over the Debden Buncher at 18,000 feet, just under an overcast. By considerable “essing” [flying in an “S” pattern?] and one 360, we made the division formation and started out across the Channel.
At the briefing, we were given a wind of 40 knots from 320 degrees for altitudes above 20,000 feet; but, when we got up there, we found it to have a velocity of nearly 130 knots. This gave us no small amount of trouble in making our control points on time and staying on course. This unexpected wind was good news to us even though it did give the navigators a lot of trouble. It gave us one darn good ground speed as we went over the target.
We entered the coast just south of the Scheldt and passed nearly over Antwerp. At the I.P., 60 miles north-northwest of the target, the deputy took the lead to make the run on G.H.. As we turned on the bomb run and headed toward the target, the flak started coming up. This being a G.H. run, it was necessary to come in straight and level, making a wonderful target for the flak gunners. They took advantage of it and, during the entire run and for four minutes after bombs away, they really poured it on. It was quite heavy and plenty accurate. I was able to hear seven or eight shells explode under my ship; when they are close enough to be heard, they are much too close to be comfortable. Old One Eye must be back from his furlough, because they were really putting it in there.
As we turned off of the target, we took over the lead again, and tried to get the wing in formation again. Most of the ships were damaged by the flak, some quite seriously. We had quite a few stragglers and a lot of feathered engines. In the lead group alone, we had five ships with engines out. Getting the formation fairly well in proper shape, we counted up and found three ships short. As we turned south and headed toward Frankfurt, two of the missing ships could be seen straggling along behind. By radio, we made contact with them, and got them back in formation by killing some airspeed on the let down. By the time we turned west just north of the Frankfurt flak, we only had one ship missing. He was not to be seen anywhere.
The rest of the trip back was without incident. Returned to our home base and made a normal formation landing. At no time during the mission did we encounter any enemy fighters. We had a very good cover of 51s and 47s in case Jerry did show up.
On final count after landing, we found that Lt. Magness and crew were missing. It was his first mission. The officers of his crew stay in the same hut with me. His bed is next to mine, so this loss is particularly close to home. I have an unusual feeling of responsibility for him and feel quite bad about losing him, expecially since his is the first crew I have lost.
This was a rough one for everyone. Besides losing Magness’s crew, the navigator on Lt. Petska’s crew was killed by a piece of flak that hit him in the back and went into his chest. The bombardier on Blackwell’s crew was hit in the face by flak and about half of the flesh on the side of his face and neck was torn away. He will live, but chances are that he will be badly scarred.
Nearly all of the ships received a lot of flak damage. Over half have major battle damage; I don’t believe any ships got through without being hit. My worst damage was in the tail; it was full of holes and big gashes. Hoffman came awfully close to getting it.
Post-script – November 16, 1944
Good news came in today on Magness. We had all given him up for lost, but today we heard that he was down in Bordeaux. How he got way down there and just what is wrong with his ship is not known yet. His crew is O.K. and should be back here in a day or so. He had better have a good excuse for being so far off course and landing way down in Southern France.
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