Hardwick SkiesStation 104 · 93rd Bomb GroupAdd to the Record
02 MARCH 1945 · FRIDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary

Mission 859.Magdeburg/Rothensee O/I.

Magdeburg, Germany

Intended Target
Magdeburg/Rothensee O/I
Magdeburg, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
38 / 321
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
85
tons

The cost.

§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
1
Ships Lost
3
Men Bailed Out
10
Men Lost

The route.

§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
89° T
Bearing In
277° T
Route Length
1,000 nmi
Time Aloft
6 h 20 m

Operational data.

§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille03:00
Stations05:50
Takeoff07:20
Form-Up07:20
Time Over Target08:00
Return Time13:40
Distance1,000 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,700 gal
Fuel Consumed2,150 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetHeavy stratus (8/10) — 80% of the sky obscured by a low, flat cloud layer.
Air Temp at Altitude-33 °F
Lowest Temp-36 °F
Wind Speed75 kt
Wind Direction220°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude28,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading157° True
Forming Altitude13,500 ft
Fighter Cover4 P-51 groups
Bombing AccuracyFair — H2X radar bombing
Flak

Tracking and barrage flak, fairly accurate

The formation.

§ 20 Aircraft Dispatched

Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.

44-49472
44-49472 · Tail AG · 330th Sq.
Bombed Primary
P1LtWalter F. HughesRTN
CPLtDouglas A. SchetterRTN
N2LtLouis H. WindsorRTN
B2LtRalph HendershotRTN
E-TTSgtConway ThorstensonRTN
ROT/SgtNorbert L. EcclesfieldRTN
WGSgtMichael J. KusnirRTN
TGSgtBoyd L. JusticeRTN
NGT/SgtRobert E. LeeRTN

The third Magdeburg mission targeted the oil refinery. The route ran in over the Zuiderzee, Zwolle, Dümmer Lake, and Hannover. Flak was a mix of tracking and barrage, fairly accurate, at a temperature of minus 38 degrees Celsius. A jet was reported in the area. During the mission the oxygen ran out, though the aircraft took no battle damage and all crew returned safely. One ship was seen to blow up. Two chutes came out. One ship and ten men were lost.

Sources.

§ Provenance
Load List
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