The next mission came on January 13th, to a railroad bridge over the Rhine at Worms. The route ran down into southern France and back up along the Moselle. Patchy low cloud forced a second run over the target before the bombs went down through the bomb bay doors. Accurate flak came up from Mannheim but caused no damage. Bombing results were assessed as very good. No fighters, no losses, all crew safe.
13 JANUARY 1945 · SATURDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 791.Worms.
Worms, Germany
Intended Target
Worms
Worms, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
86 / 276
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
235
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
3
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
120° T
Bearing In
305° T
Route Length
1,321 nmi
Time Aloft
4 h 40 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille05:30
Stations09:15
Takeoff10:00
Time Over Target10:30
Return Time14:40
Distance1,321 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,500 gal
Fuel Consumed2,100 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetClear or near-clear skies throughout; visual flight conditions the entire route.
Air Temp at Altitude-38 °F
Lowest Temp-45 °F
Wind Speed51 kt
Wind Direction100°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude22,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading149° True
Forming Altitude10,000 ft
Fighter Cover3 P-51 groups
Bombing AccuracyVery good
Flak
Meager, accurate from Mannheim
The formation.
§ 1 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.
Sources.
§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published