Munster. Flown in Wee Willie. Part of McGuire's March 21-24 sequence.
23 MARCH 1945 · FRIDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 908.Rheine Bridge.
Rheine, Germany
Intended Target
Rheine Bridge
Rheine, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
79 / 319
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
216.3
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
1
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
4
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
90° T
Bearing In
275° T
Route Length
927 nmi
Time Aloft
6 h 00 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille02:00
Stations06:35
Takeoff07:10
Form-Up06:00
Time Over Target09:00
Return Time13:10
Distance927 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,700 gal
Fuel Consumed1,600 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetComplete (10/10) stratus overcast — solid, unbroken low cloud horizon to horizon; instrument flight conditions.
Air Temp at Altitude-20 °F
Lowest Temp-20 °F
Wind Speed20 kt
Wind Direction60°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude22,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading289° True
Forming Altitude11,000 ft
Fighter Cover1 P-51 group
Bombing AccuracyPerfect
Flak
Heavy and concentrated at the target
The formation.
§ 2 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.▸ 1 ship carrying your selection
The March 23rd mission went to Münster, one of the most heavily defended flak towns in Germany. The crew was flying deputy lead of the group. In the lead ship was Major Biggers, recently promoted and appointed commanding officer. On the bomb run the lead ship blew apart. The largest pieces the pilot could make out were an outboard wing panel burning as it fell, a wheel, and one engine. The pilot had carried a deep animosity toward Biggers since the difficult weeks following Pete Scott's death. Watching the lead ship go down, he made a decision. He would not allow himself to hate anyone again. The weight of it, he felt, was too much to carry. Their own aircraft came through without damage. Bombing results were recorded as perfect.
Sources.
§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published