I. PLANNING:
DATE: 23 March 1945
TARGET: (P) M/Y - Holzwickede, Germany.
ALERTED: 2045
WG AWO REC'D: 2330
DIV F/O REC'D: 0145
GP MSSN NBR: 172
BOMB LOAD REC'D: 2310
WG F/O REC'D: 0310
ZERO HOUR: 0900
FORCE REQUIRED: One (1) group of four (4) squadrons, plus 3 a/c to 94th group.
FORCE FURNISHED BY SQUADRONS (PLANNED AND ACTUAL):
|
: |
832nd |
: |
833rd |
: |
834th |
: |
835th |
: |
TOTAL |
| Crews |
: |
11 (11) |
: |
11 (11) |
: |
11 (11) |
: |
9 (9) |
: |
42 (42) |
| A/C |
: |
11 (11) |
: |
4 (4) |
: |
12 (12) |
: |
15 (15) |
: |
42 (42) |
AIR LEADER: Capt Simpson (Group Lead)
PARTICIPATING STAFF:
(1) Capt McAnelly (Ld-Hi Sq)
(2) Lt Dennis (Ld-Lo Sq)
(3) Lt Brown (Ld-Diamond Sq)
(4) Maj Stidd (Dep Ld-Ld Sq)
(5) Lt Hickey (Dep Ld-Diamond Sq)
(6) Capt McNeice (Sq Bomb)
LEAD CREWS:
(1) Raddatz (OP L)
(2) Von Platen (Dep Ld-Ld Sq)
(3) Hinze (On Dep Ld, Ld-Hi Sq)
(4) Vance (Dep Ld-Hi Sq)
(5) Martin (Ld-Lo Sq)
(6) Seaburg (Dep Ld-Lo Sq)
(7) Heuser (Ld-Diamond Sq)
(8) Sauler (Dep Ld-Diamond Sq)
BRIEFING OFFICER: Capt Miller
BOMB BRIEFING: Lt Stewart
S-2 BRIEFING: Major Morriss
POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "C" Group
ESTIMATED TIME OF TAKE-OFF: 0920
ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP 12,000' WG 12,500'
BRIEFING TIME: 0430
NAV BRIEFING: Lt Maurer
BOMBING ALTITUDE: 23,000'
(tenth group in Div form)
RETURN: 1547
DIV 15,000'
II. EXECUTION:
TAKE-OFF: 0920-0953 RUNWAY: 07 WIND: 100° @ 5 MPH.
A/C TAKING OFF: SQ "A" 9 SQ "B" 10 SQ "C" 10 SQ "D" 10 94th: 3 TOTAL: 42
ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP 12,000' WG 12,500' DIV 15,000'
ELAPSED TIME OF ASSEMBLY:
One hour and twenty-six (1:26) minutes from time of take-off. Lead a/c reached assembly altitude at 0951 and group was forme at 1047.
ASSEMBLY (GP, WG & DIV):
Individual a/c spiralled up to an excellent group assembly at 12,000' over BUN 22, contact conditions were prevailing. Wing assembly was very good, 4D falling into position behind 4C (486) at BUN 22. Both groups proceeded to BUN 16 and 2 where good Wing assembly was accomplished. CP #1 was reached on time, but the 93rd Wing was three (3) mminutes late, forcing the 4th Wing to ess to establish inverval. Division assembly was taken at this point, etablishing close intervals.
ARRIVED 1ST PT WG ASS'Y LINE: 1110 - on time
POSITION IN THE TASK FORCE FORM: 4ht "C" Grop (tenth group in div form)
DEPARTED CP "1": 1122 - on time.
CLIMB TO ALTITUDE (ROUTE IN):
Climb to bombing altitude was started on time. Across the channel, groups essed considerably, at times being fifteen (15) to twenty (20) miles north of course. The continent was entered at the proper entry point, despite the great variations from course across the channel. Essing continued over the contenent to about 0700E, where the groups turned towards the Pre-IP. Climb was about as briefed, being 214'/min to 15,000' and a bit over SOP from 15-23,000' at 182'/min. Squadrons took good interval prior to the Pre-PI, the low squadrong echeloning in the right off the high squadron for bombing.