03 FEBRUARY 1945 · SATURDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 817.Magdeburg/Rothensee.
Magdeburg, Germany
Intended Target
Magdeburg/Rothensee
Magdeburg, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
116 / 434
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
269
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
89° T
Bearing In
277° T
Route Length
950 nmi
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille03:30
Return Time15:45
Distance950 nmi
Fuel Consumed2,300 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetStratocumulus clouds throughout the route — low, lumpy/rolling cloud; coverage level unrecorded.
Air Temp at Altitude-40 °F
Lowest Temp-40 °F
Wind Speed50 kt
Wind Direction270°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude22,500 ft
Bombing Run Heading85° True
Fighter Cover4 P-51 groups
Bombing AccuracyFair
Flak
Moderate flak
The formation.
§ 32 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.
The next mission returned to Magdeburg, 75 miles short of Berlin. It was their second time to that target. Flak was moderate, one hole in the aircraft, all planes returned safely. Fair bombing results. Not as difficult as the first Magdeburg raid, but not a milk run either.
Formation position 1-3
Formation position 2-1
Formation position 3-2
Formation position 3-1
Formation position 4-3 Hi Right
Formation position 4-3 Lead Sq.
Formation position 3-3; ship number prefix listed without # symbol in source
Formation position 4-1
Formation position 2-2; ship number listed without # symbol in source
Command Pilot: Capt. Oscar I. Hoffman
Capt. Hoffman listed as CA (Command Pilot)
Formation position not stated; ship number listed without position suffix in source
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