Mission five took the crew to the marshalling yard at Hamm. The route followed a now-familiar path: in over the coast at Egmond, past Amsterdam, Apeldoorn, Enschede, and Münster to the target. The return ran through Gütersloh, Bielefeld, and Osnabrück. Flak was heavy at the coast coming and going, at the target, and at three points along the route. The official report noted no flak holes. The navigator's log told a different story: seven hits, a thirteen-inch tear in the bomb bay, three holes in the tail, two in the wing, and one in an engine. All crew returned safely. No fighters were encountered. The PFF bombing results were recorded as a hit on the target, though not a clean one.
02 OCTOBER 1944 · MONDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 659.Hamm.
Hamm, Germany
Intended Target
Hamm
Hamm, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2BD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
266 / 308
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
684.7
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
99° T
Bearing In
284° T
Route Length
769 nmi
Time Aloft
4 h 50 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille02:30
Stations07:30
Takeoff10:40
Form-Up05:10
Time Over Target11:00
Return Time15:30
Distance769 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,700 gal
Fuel Consumed1,300 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetHeavy two-layer overcast: low stratus covering 8/10 of the sky, topped by a complete (10/10) stratocumulus layer. Near-total cloud cover throughout.
Air Temp at Altitude-31 °F
Lowest Temp-31 °F
Wind Speed79 kt
Wind Direction10°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude23,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading330° True
Forming Altitude11,000 ft
Fighter Cover4 P-51 groups
Bombing AccuracyPFF — target hit but not too good
Flak
Heavy at coast inbound and outbound; heavy at target and three places enroute
The formation.
§ 2 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.
Hamm, Germany
Sources.
§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published