Mission No. 26
Date – December 29, 1944
Assigned Target – Marshalling Yard, Bingen, Germany
Target Attacked – As Briefed.
Results – Fair.
Aircraft Number – M-7975-U (PFF)
Bomb Load – 38 100 lb. G.P. 2 Smoke.
Position in Formation – Division Lead.
Time – 7 hrs. 20 min.
Bombing Altitude – 22,000'
Casualties – None.
Damage – Major Battle Damage, Flak. Gas Tank Punctures, Structural Damage.
Losses – Lt. Erickson and Crew. Ship No. E-7188-G
Loading List.
CA – Major Petersen, T. J.
Pilot – Capt. Arlin, A. A.
Co-P. – 2nd Lt. Buffalow, Billy W.
Nav. – Capt. Pickett, P. E.
Nav. – 1st Lt. Kozak, S. V.
Bomb. – 1st Lt. Baxter, M. V.
Mickey – 1st Lt. Meyers, T. E.
Eng. – T/Sgt. Chmielewski, R. J.
Radio – T/Sgt. Catterlin, R. W.
W. G. – S/Sgt. Hoffman, A. W.
W. G. – S/Sgt. Wilson, W. C.
Mission No. 26
Date – December 29, 1944
The first mission we were briefed for this morning was one way over beyond Leipzig, an oil target. None of us felt very bad when it was scrubbed and called back for another briefing on this target just west of Frankfurt.
The weather all during the mission was really good for a change. Over England, it was 3/10 in patchy low cumulus, solid over the Channel, and breaking up to 5/10 in the target area. On the return to the base it was good enough to come in in formation and make a normal landing.
The assembly went O.K., and the first thing we knew we were at the I.P. From the I.P. on, things went kind of haywire. We were at quite a low altitude, and the flak all the way from the enemy lines was really in there scorching our tail feathers. They were firing visually and doing a darn good job. After the I.P., the flak changed from patchy to continual fire following us. Just before bombs were to be released, something went wrong with the C-1, and so Bax didn’t drop. After making a 360, we came in again on practically the same heading, and dropped the bombs. The strike was just a little short. From the target out to the lines, we kept meeting sporadic flak that was very accurate.
Our target was marshalling yards on a bend of the Rhine River just west of Frankfurt. A very good target, easy to pick up. It was discouraging to have to make the 360, but more so having missed the target on the second try. The first time, it was a malfunction of the sight, but there is no explanation why over half of our bombs fell short of the target. However, we did hit it with some.
The flak today was unusually accurate. At no time was it really heavy, but it was continual at short intervals all the time we were in enemy territory. The enemy must have all of that country immediately behind his lines salted with flak batteries with their best gunners on them.
No enemy fighters were encountered at any time throughout the mission. We had a few P-51s with us but it didn’t look like enough if we had been attacked by very many jerries. However, we made it in and out without any trouble.
The Low and High Squadrons left us when we made the 360 at the target, so we all came out alone. On crossing the lines with the High Squadron, Lt. Erickson’s ship caught fire and exploded a little later. It is believed the crew was able to bail out. It is hard to tell which side of the lines they landed on because they went down directly over the lines.
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