31 DECEMBER 1944 · SUNDAY · STATION 104Bombed Primary
Mission 772.Neuss.
Neuss, Germany
Intended Target
Neuss
Neuss, Germany
Operating Group
93rd BG
1BD
Takeoff Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Landing Base
Hardwick
Station 104
Aircraft Effective
109 / 418
effective / dispatched
Bomb Tonnage
292.8
tons
The cost.
§ Outcome
2
Ships Aborting
0
Ships Lost
0
Men Bailed Out
0
Men Lost
The route.
§ Takeoff to Target
Bearing Out
109° T
Bearing In
293° T
Route Length
950 nmi
Time Aloft
8 h 45 m
Operational data.
§ From the Debrief
Times & Distance
Reveille
03:30
Stations
07:15
Takeoff
08:00
Time Over Target
09:00
Return Time
16:45
Distance
950 nmi
Fuel Aboard
2,300 gal
Fuel Consumed
1,800 gal
Weather
Cloud En-Route to Target
Clear or near-clear skies throughout; visual flight conditions the entire route.
Air Temp at Altitude
-33 °F
Lowest Temp
-33 °F
Wind Speed
52 kt
Wind Direction
70°
Bombing & Defense
Bombing Altitude
22,000 ft
Bombing Run Heading
101° True
Forming Altitude
13,000 ft
Fighter Cover
2 P-51, 1 P-47 groups
Bombing Accuracy
Fair
Flak
Meager from front lines only
The formation.
2 aircraft · tap a ship for its crew
P1Lt Walter F. Hughes
CPLt Douglas A. Schetter
N2Lt Louis H. Windsor
B2Lt Ralph Hendershot
E-TTSgt Conway Thorstenson
ROT/Sgt Norbert L. Ecclesfield
WGSgt Michael J. Kusnir
TGSgt Boyd L. Justice
NGSgt Robert T. Lee
GSgt Carroll F. Ruby
Sources.
§ Provenance
Mighty Eighth War Diary
Roger A Freeman · Jane's Publishing Company Limited · 1981
Published