Bayreuth. Formed over Charleroi in poor visibility; a B-24 spun in. Descended the Rhine River on the deck in Javelin formation; near Bonn/Cologne encountered barrage balloons in murk. McGuire threw ship into vertical bank right, then left, dodging balloons by reflex and luck. One or two ships lost in the incident. Hanf spotted the second balloon. Form 5: 2:10 CP, 4:10 P, 2:00 P-AI.
05 APRIL 1945 · THURSDAY · STATION 104Missing in Action
Mission 928.Plauen.
Plauen, Germany
Intended Target
Plauen
Plauen, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
151 / 397
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
348.4
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
5
Ships Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
102° T
Bearing In
291° T
The formation.
§ 3 Aircraft Dispatched
Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.▸ 1 ship carrying your selection
No crew manifest catalogued for this sortie.
B-24M serial 44-50697, assigned to the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, departed Hardwick on 5 April 1945 on a bombing mission to Bayreuth. Eyewitness F/O John H. Van Zandt, flying as co-pilot in ship 157-L of the same squadron, observed the aircraft crossing the Dutch coast at approximately 400–600 feet altitude on the return leg. The aircraft was being engaged by 20mm and 40mm flak fire. The aircraft initiated a steep bank to the left, apparently attempting to evade the fire. Van Zandt's engineer, S/Sgt Ernest H. Fleming, reported that the plane completed a 180-degree turn and was observed inverted at the end of the maneuver. Last known position was 5130N 0330E at 1204 hours. Nine crew members were aboard; all were reported Missing in Action as of the date of the report, 9 April 1945.
B-24M serial 44-50697, assigned to the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, departed Hardwick on 5 April 1945 on a bombing mission to Bayreuth. Eyewitness F/O John H. Van Zandt, flying as co-pilot in ship 157-L of the same squadron, observed the aircraft crossing the Dutch coast at approximately 400–600 feet altitude on the return leg. The aircraft was being engaged by 20mm and 40mm flak fire. The aircraft initiated a steep bank to the left, apparently attempting to evade the fire. Van Zandt's engineer, S/Sgt Ernest H. Fleming, reported that the plane completed a 180-degree turn and was observed inverted at the end of the maneuver. Last known position was 5130N 0330E at 1204 hours. Nine crew members were aboard; all were reported Missing in Action as of the date of the report, 9 April 1945.
Sources.
§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published