October
1944
Buzz bombs were
sent to the area around the base with increasing frequency. One landed
a mile away during a church service, another landed during the showing
of a movie. None did any damage. More MIA crewmen who had evaded capture
on the continent returned to base. Squadron plane guard was discontinued
in favor of a roving defense system. On the 20th, parties were held
at the officer's and enlisted men's clubs during which awards were given
and citations read. On the 25th, a B-24 carrying crewmen to another
base crashed on landing, killing 9 of those on board.
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October
2: Hamm
The marshalling yards were hit with good results. The yard was left
in flames and freight cars were destroyed. Accurate flak caused damage
to 15 planes, but all returned.
October
3: Lachen/Speyerdorf
25 planes attacked the airfield with good results reported.
October
5: Lippstadt airfield
Several errors caused the 446th to drop short of the target. 1 plane
crash landed on it's return to base with no injuries reported.
October
6: Harburg
31 planes attacked an oir refinery with poor results. A pilot was killed
by flak; the co-pilot was able to return the heavily damaged plane to
base. Photo
October
7: Clausthal/Zellerfeld
36 planes hit an explosives factory, leaving it in ruins.
October
9: Koblenz
35 planes attacked with unobserved results. Contrails from jet fighters
were seen in the area.
October
12: Osnabruk
29 planes hit the marshalling yards with unobserved results.
October
14: Cologne
The marshalling yards were hit by 30 planes with unobserved results.
Flak was heavy.
October
15: Cologne
A return visit saw fair results on the marshalling yards. "Lady
Luck" (41-29128) received severe flak damage and returned on 2
engines. Upon landing, it crashed, killing 3 crewmen.
October
17: Cologne
The marshalling yards were again hit, with unobserved results.
October
19: Mainz
Marshalling yards on the north side of the Rhine were hit with poor
results. "Slightly Dangerous" (42-50681) was hit by flak and
crashed, killing 3, with the remaining 7 taken prisoner. Photos
October
22: Hamm
29 planes attacked the marshalling yards with unobserved results.
October
25: Neumunster
31 planes attacked with unobserved results. Photos
October
26: Minden
In spite of a solid undercast, a canal was hit with very good results.
Several miles of the canal dried up as a result.
October
30: Wesermunde
The target was bombed with unobserved results.
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