The November 10th mission went to the marshalling yards, with the navigator's log recording the target as Hanau rather than Hamm. Hendershot was in hospital and did not fly. The route formed near London, crossed the coast at Calais, and tracked through Lille, Charleroi, Liège, and Koblenz to the target. The return ran out through Frankfurt and Ghent. Flak came up at Koblenz on both legs and again over Frankfurt and the target, though cloud cover at 10/10ths obscured any view of results. A jet was spotted in the area. No ships or men were lost. After the mission the crew was stood down and given a short leave in London.
10 NOVEMBER 1944 · FRIDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 709.Hanau/Langendiebach A/F.
Hanau, Germany
Intended Target
Hanau/Langendiebach A/F
Hanau, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2BD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
229 / 302
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
413.5
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
113° T
Bearing In
299° T
Route Length
1,300 nmi
Time Aloft
6 h 55 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille04:30
Stations07:45
Takeoff08:50
Form-Up06:55
Time Over Target10:30
Return Time15:45
Distance1,300 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,500 gal
Fuel Consumed2,250 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetComplete (10/10) stratus overcast with additional altocumulus clouds above — solid multi-layer cover.
Air Temp at Altitude-42 °F
Lowest Temp-42 °F
Wind Speed105 kt
Wind Direction340°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude21,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading201° True
Forming Altitude15,000 ft
Fighter Cover4 P-51, 2 P-47 groups
Bombing Accuracy10/10 cloud obscured the target
Flak
At coast inbound and outbound, Frankfurt, and at target — 10/10 cloud throughout
The formation.
§ 1 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.▸ 1 ship carrying your selection
Sources.
§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published