Listed as '409th ship'; CA (Command Pilot) designation for Biggers, Charles E.
12 OCTOBER 1944 · THURSDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 674.Bremen.
Bremen, Germany
Intended Target
Bremen
Bremen, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
3BD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
238 / 262
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
625
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
1
Ships Lost
3
Men Bailed Out
9
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
79° T
Bearing In
265° T
Route Length
872 nmi
Time Aloft
5 h 40 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille04:00
Stations07:55
Takeoff08:20
Form-Up05:20
Time Over Target10:00
Return Time14:00
Distance872 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,300 gal
Fuel Consumed1,700 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetNear-clear skies en route (only 1/10 stratus); total overcast (10/10) at the target — blind bombing conditions.
Air Temp at Altitude-17 °F
Lowest Temp-18 °F
Wind Speed66 kt
Wind Direction300°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude22,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading88° True
Forming Altitude13,000 ft
Fighter Cover4 P-51, 1 P-47 groups
Bombing AccuracyReports good; crew could not observe results
Flak
Heavy and accurate at target
The formation.
§ 33 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.▸ 1 ship carrying your selection
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker)
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker)
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker); aircraft did not take off — nose wheel collapsed
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker); aircraft did not take off — mag trouble noted
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker)
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker); annotation '2nd Lt. H. E. [unclear]' appears in navigator row — possibly an additional officer or alternate; full meaning unclear
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker)
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker); 'CA' annotation listed for 'Briggers' — Command Pilot designation, not a rank; 'PNav.' = Pilotage Navigator; 'M/Nav.' = likely Master Navigator or second Navigator role
Lead aircraft (circle-1 marker)
Lead aircraft (circled O indicates lead)
Lead aircraft (circled O indicates lead)
Lead aircraft (circled O indicates lead)
Lead aircraft (circled O indicates lead)
Lead aircraft (circled O indicates lead); ship number format lacks separator between digits and letter
Lead aircraft (circled O indicates lead); ship number format lacks separator between digits and letter
Circle-1 symbol appears next to rank column header, possibly indicating lead or command aircraft
Circle-1 symbol appears next to rank column, possibly indicating lead or command aircraft
Circle-1 symbol appears next to rank column, possibly indicating lead or command aircraft. Serial number partially illegible.
Circle-1 symbol appears next to rank column, possibly indicating lead or command aircraft
Sources.
§ Provenance
2nd Air Division · 2nd Air Division Digital Archive · 1944
Official record
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published