Sortie2BDB-24Bombed Primary
“Thunder Bird/Slightly Virgin”.Over Koblenz/Mosel.
Mission 647 · 25 September 1944 · Koblenz, Germany
Serial
42-95127
B-24H
Fuselage Code
YM
Squadron
409th
Ted's Traveling Circus
Takeoff
08:30
Hardwick (Sta. 104)
Over Target
12:00
Landing
14:45
Hardwick (Sta. 104)
Duration
6:15
Bombing Altitude
22100
Aboard
10
men
The narrative.
§ This Ship
Benster's 127-F took off at 08:30, dropped twelve 500-pound GPs on the leader (PFF) at 12:00 from 22,100 feet on a heading of 350°, and landed at Hardwick at 14:45. Results were unobserved and seemed off. They reported no enemy fighters, flak nil except some off in the distance, and good fighter support. Minor (A) battle damage was checked. The crew heard Bigolin say he was to land in Brussels.
The crew.
§ 10 aboard
Name
Position
Serial
Hometown
On this flight
1LtDixon W. Benster
Pilot
Station 1
—
—
Returned
→
2LtAli Matthews
Co-Pilot
Station 2
—
—
Returned
→
2LtJohn Fore
Navigator
Station 3
—
—
Returned
→
2LtBernard M. Havercamp
Bombardier
Station 4
—
—
Returned
→
SgtOswald A. Sis
Engineer / Top Turret
Station 5
—
—
Returned
→
SgtMelvin Williams
Radio Operator
Station 6
—
—
Returned
→
S/SgtRodney D. Bortis
Waist Gunner
Station 8
—
—
Returned
→
PfcOscar L. Smith
Waist Gunner
Station 8
—
—
Returned
→
CplJames Coker
Tail Gunner
Station 9
—
—
Returned
→
SgtThomas W. Woods
Nose Gunner
—
—
Returned
→
The load.
§ 6,000 lb aboard
AN-M64
500-pounder
12× 500 lb
TypeGeneral Purpose · TNT/Amatol
Weight6,000 lb
FuzingNose AN-M103 (1/10) · Tail AN-M101A2 (.025)
The flight.
§ Ship’s Record
The Day
Takeoff08:30
Over target12:00
Landing14:45
Time in the air6:15
Took off fromHardwick (Sta. 104)
Landed atHardwick (Sta. 104)
Bombing altitude22100
The Record
ResultBombed Primary
Sortie creditFull
Counted toward tourYes
Landing dispositionHome base
Battle damageCat. A, slight
Record confidenceValidated against a source
Formation
Formation12-ship, four 3-ship elements (T-bar)
Slot, as written3-3
Element3
SeatRight wing
DescribesOn the bomb run
Flew with409th Squadron
Fuel & Equipment
Strike cameraCarried
H2X scope photoNo
The target.
§ As Briefed
Koblenz/MoselMarshalling Yard
LocationKoblenz, Germany