Deputy Lead Division; Major PANT designated CA (Command Pilot)
25 MARCH 1945 · SUNDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 913.Ehmen.
Ehmen, Germany
Intended Target
Ehmen
Ehmen, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
59 / 272
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
156.9
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
87° T
Bearing In
275° T
Route Length
1,100 nmi
Time Aloft
7 h 40 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille02:00
Stations05:00
Takeoff05:40
Form-Up07:40
Time Over Target07:30
Return Time13:20
Distance1,100 nmi
Fuel Aboard2,500 gal
Fuel Consumed1,900 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to TargetClear skies with good visibility throughout the route.
Air Temp at Altitude-18 °F
Lowest Temp-18 °F
Wind Speed49 kt
Wind Direction350°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude23,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading327° True
Forming Altitude6,000 ft
Fighter Cover2 P-51 groups
Bombing AccuracyVery good
Flak
None hit the formation on the mission
The formation.
§ 26 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.▸ 1 ship carrying your selection
The 32nd mission came the day after the Rhine crossing supply drop. The target was an oil storage facility at Buchen, roughly 20 miles southeast of Hamburg. The sight of that course on the briefing map brought the familiar knot back. Over the target, at least 15 ME-262 jet fighters attacked the formation. The covering fighters drove them off without a loss. The waist gunner claimed a probable. No flak, no battle damage, all crew safe. Bombing results were assessed as very good.
Lead Division; Col. ROBERTSON designated CA (Command Pilot)
Lead Hi Rite
Lead Lo Left
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