The March 12th mission was a Russian ground support operation. The briefing map showed the red line running clear around Germany, up the Baltic between Germany and Sweden, all the way to Swinemunde on the Baltic coast, where German primary flight training schools were located. The route took the B-24s over nine hours in the air, the B-17s nearly ten. Flying up through the Baltic, the crew spotted six submarines near Kiel. Flak at the target was meager. No fighters appeared. By the time the last aircraft dropped, not a bomb remained in the entire force. At 2,040 nautical miles, it was the longest mission the crew had flown. Sweden was visible from altitude.
12 MARCH 1945 · MONDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 883.Swinemunde M/Y.
Swinemunde, Poland
Intended Target
Swinemunde M/Y
Swinemunde, Poland
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
220 / 381
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
521.5
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
74° T
Bearing In
265° T
Route Length
2,040 nmi
Time Aloft
12 h 30 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille02:30
Stations06:35
Takeoff07:10
Form-Up08:30
Time Over Target09:00
Return Time19:40
Distance2,040 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,700 gal
Fuel Consumed3,150 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetStratocumulus clouds throughout — low, lumpy/rolling cloud; coverage level unrecorded.
Air Temp at Altitude-15 °F
Lowest Temp-15 °F
Wind Speed38 kt
Wind Direction10°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude20,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading214° True
Forming Altitude8,000 ft
Fighter Cover2 P-51 groups
Bombing AccuracyExcellent — the General liked it
Flak
Meager at target
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