February
1944
72 hour passes
to London were reduced to 48 hours, though some 8 day leaves were granted
later. A German "nuisance raid" on the 3rd saw bombs dropping
just a mile and a half from the base. A new officers club opened on
the 12th, and a new enlisted club a week later.
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February
4: Frankfurt
A total of 841 bombers from 15 combat wings dropped more than 900 tons
on the Frankfurt area. Heavy overcast and winds made navigation difficult.
Because of this, many planes bombed on targets of opportunity. "Black
Widow" (42-7542) was shot down by fighters, with 5 crewmen killed
and 5 taken prisoner. One of the crewmen was not killed by the crash,
but was machine-gunned by a fighter pilot while parachuting. Photos
February
5: Tours
The airdrome was attacked by 14 planes with good results. Ammunition
dumps were seen exploding, and several buildings and hangars were hit.
February
6: Noball target, Eclimeux, France
Only 3 of 24 planes were able to drop, but hit the target. Heavy cloud
cover kept the others from dropping.
February
8: Noball target, Pa de Calais, France
24 planes dropped through a complete overcast.
February
10: Gilze-Rijen
airfield, Holland
Because of failure on the GH pathfinder plane and heavy overcast, none
of the 22 planes which reaced the target dropped. The weather was especially
bad, with 5 crewmen suffering frostbite. The weather also caused a few
close calls and minor collisions among the aircraft.
February
11: Noball target; French coast
Weather prevented the planes from dropping, but one plane, which could
not form with his own group, tagged along with the 93rd bomb group on
their mission.
February
13th: Noball target, Pa de Calais, France
The targets were hit successfully by 17 planes. Opposition was light.
February
20: Gotha
The longest mission to date, with 1,020 planes from many bomb groups
attacking Gotha. A total of 444 bombs were dropped by 446th planes through
heavy cloud cover.
February
21: Handorf
Heavy clouds caused the group to alter it's plans, and bombed Hesepe
airfield and Lingen, Germany. Bombs were seen falling on a runway, a
railroad, and a camouflaged building.
February
22: Gotha
After the group was recalled from the mission to Gotha, they decided
to bomb targets of opportunity in Germany. By mistake, though, they
bombed Arnhem and Nijmegen, on the German-Dutch border. Docks, factories,
and a fuel dump were hit, and about 885 Dutch citizens were killed.
Photos
February
24: Gotha
Fragmentation bombs were used for the first time, on an aircraft factory
airfiled where 40 to 60 planes were parked. The factory itself and the
city were also hit, with good results. Flak was intense and accurate.
One plane, the "Lady Barbara" (42-99978), received a direct
hit in a fuel tank by anti-aircraft fire. All 10 crewmen bailed out
and were taken prisoner. Flak also hit a second plane (42-100282), with
2 killed and 8 taken prisoner. A third plane, "Henry's Pride"
(42-7574), was severely damaged by cannon fire. The crew bailed out
over England, but the pilot, 2/Lt Cecil Miller, crashed with the plane
and was killed. Miller was poshumously awarded the Silver Star. Photos
February
25: Furth
The 705th's streak of 25 consecutive mission without the loss of a plane
ended this day, when the "Rigor Mortis" (42-7589) was hit
by flak, which was intense and accurate. It's crew bailed out and was
taken prisoner. Incendiary bombs were dropped with direct hits observed
on an aircraft factory and field. 1/Lt Peter Kartovsky shot down an
ME 109 and S/Sgts Raymond Oliver and Robert White each shot down FW
190's. Photos
February
28: Noball target
The failure of both GH planes caused the mission to be scrubbed
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