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02 MARCH 1945 · FRIDAY · STATION 104

Mission 859

Magdeburg/Rothensee O/I
Bombed Primary
Intended Target
Magdeburg/Rothensee O/I
Magdeburg, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
2AD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
38 / 321
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
85
tons
ROUTE PLATE · TAKEOFF → TARGET
TAKEOFF · HARDWICK✛TARGET · MAGDEBURG/ROTHENSEE O/I
Bearing Out
89° T
Bearing In
277° T
Route Length
1,000 nmi
Time Aloft
6 h 20 m
§ Outcome
0
Ships Aborting
1
Ships Lost
3
Men Bailed Out
10
Men Lost
§ Times & Distance
Reveille
03:00
Stations
05:50
Takeoff
07:20
Form-Up
07:20
Time Over Target
08:00
Return Time
13:40
Distance
1,000 nmi
Fuel Aboard
2,700 gal
Fuel Consumed
2,150 gal
§ Weather
Cloud En-Route to Target
Heavy stratus (8/10) — 80% of the sky obscured by a low, flat cloud layer.
Air Temp at Altitude
-33 °F
Lowest Temp
-36 °F
Wind Speed
75 kt
Wind Direction
220°
§ Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude
28,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading
157° True
Forming Altitude
13,500 ft
Fighter Cover
4 P-51 groups
Bombing Accuracy
Fair — H2X radar bombing
Flak Description

Tracking and barrage flak, fairly accurate

§ Sorties · 20 Aircraft Dispatched

Each ship that lifted off, and the men aboard her.

▸ 1 ship carrying your selection
Unknown · 44-49472 · AG · 330th SQDN
Bombed Primary

The third Magdeburg mission targeted the oil refinery. The route ran in over the Zuiderzee, Zwolle, Dümmer Lake, and Hannover. Flak was a mix of tracking and barrage, fairly accurate, at a temperature of minus 38 degrees Celsius. A jet was reported in the area. During the mission the oxygen ran out, though the aircraft took no battle damage and all crew returned safely. One ship was seen to blow up. Two chutes came out. One ship and ten men were lost.

Sources

Load List
Official record
2nd Air Division · 2nd Air Division Digital Archive · 1944
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Published
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981