Mission 46
Mission Summaries > April 1944
SATURDAY, 1 APRIL
1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF
OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS
(Eighth Air Force):
Mission 287:
440 bombers and 475
fighters are dispatched to bomb the chemical industry at Ludwigshafen, Germany
(the largest in Europe).
245 B-17s dispatched of the
lead force abandon the mission over the French coast due to heavy clouds; 7
B-17s are damaged.
195 B-24s in the second force became widely
dispersed and bomb targets of opportunity; 101 hit Pforzheim;
38 hit Schaffhausen, Switzerland; 17 hit Strasbourg, France; and 9 hit
Grafenhausen; Schaffhausen and Strasbourg were mistaken as German towns; they
claim 1-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and
42 damaged; casualties are 9 KIA, 12 WIA and 113 MIA.
Escort is provided by 280
P-47s and 195 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s: P-47s claim 13-1-19 Luftwaffe
aircraft on the ground 2 P-47s are lost and 12 damaged, 2 pilots are MIA; P-51s
claim 5-2-4 aircraft, 2 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged, 2 pilots are MIA.
Target: Primary: Ludwigshafen, Germany - I. G. Farbenindustrie Chemical Plant Secondary: Pforzheim, Germany - Pforzheim City Center | ||
8th Air Force F.O. No: | 287 | |
Aircraft Taking Off: | ||
Aircraft Dispatched: | ||
Aircraft Aborts: | ||
Aircraft Over Primary: | ||
Aircraft Over Secondary: | ||
Aircraft Over Last Resort: | ||
Aircraft Bomb Load: | ||
Group Bomb Load: | ||
Results: | ||
Tactical Mission Report: | Mission Data: Date: 01 Apr 44 Primary Target: Secondary Target: Last Resort Target: Units Participating: Narrative: Assembly: Climb: Route In: Bomb Run: Route Out: Enemy Fighters: Fighter Support: Flak: | |
Losses: | ||
Note: | ||