486th Group

28/5/44 2130 S-2

OPERATIONAL NARRATIVE, 486TH GROUP, LUTZKENDORF MISSION, 28 May 1944.

1. None.
2. First S.A.V. photos show target area almost completely covered with smoke, but new bursts appear in vicinity of M.P.I. and to right of it.
3. None.
4. Warnigerode area (north of I.P.) --- meager and accurate.
Target area----- Moderate and accurate.
Koblenz---------Moderate and inaccurate.
5. Weather did not affect mission.
6. Considerable RR and barge activity reported at Koblenz.
7. Fighter support very good.

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A-2 Reporting Section
3rd bomb. Div. and 92nd Combat W.

486th Group

29/5/44 1130

INTELLIGENCE REPORT, 486TH GROUP, LUTZKENDORF MISSION, 28 May 1944

A. Enemy air opposition.

None.

B. Observations of crews:

1. Considerable rail and barge activity was observed at Koblenz.
2. 20 to 25 barrage balloons were observed over a dam and reservoir south of Weimar. Pictures obtained with hand-held camera.3. Very effective smoke screen reported at Brunswick.
4. At Limburg, very accurate bombing was observed, apparently done by another group of B-24's.
5. Smoke screen observed at Saalburg.
6. At 1508 hours, huge clouds of black smoke were seen extending up to 13,000' at Zeitz.
7. Extensive smoke screens were reported in the Magdeburg area.

C. Crew reports of friendly A/C in distress.

1. A/C from this group:

a. Leader of low squadron (Lt. Hicks, A/C No. 345) was hit by flak near I.P. and feathered #3 engine. He was unable to stay in formation but apparently tried to make a ran on the primary target. He was seen following the formation on route out at a lower altitude, and was

apparently last seen on course at a lower altitude, and was apparently last seen on course at a point about 30 miles from the Belgium coast. Last radio message received gave his position as south of Liege.
b. #3 A/C in high element of low squadron (Lt. Sanders, A/C 682) was apparently hit by flak in target area. A B-2A was seen to crash between the primary target and the RP. and from 5 to 8 chutes were reported. It is believed that this A/C was No. 682, but no positive identification could be established.

2. A/C from other bomb. Grps.:

a. At 1556 hours, 5023N - 0834B, a B-17 was seen lagging behind its formation. 4 P-38's were observed escorting it.

3. Fighter A/C:

a. At 1502 hours, between I.P. and target, a S/E fighter was seen to spin down and explode up impact. No chute was reported.

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HEADQUARTERS
486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 559

29 May 1944

SUBJECT: Report of Operations Officer -Mission of28 May 1944, Lutzkendorf, Germany.

TO : Commanding Officer, 486th Bombardment Group (H)

1. General Narrative: The 486th Group scheduled 2 squadrons of 13 A/C each for the day's operation, with the 487th leading the 92nd Wing and the 486th flying low group. Zero hour was moved up one hour, making take-off one hour later than briefed. Take-off was at 1000-1018 hours for 23 A/C with 5 more A/C taking off up to as late as 1158. Complete details will be given in Aircraft not Attacking report.

After take-off, climb to 12,000 feet was made individually and assembly for the group was completed at 1130. The formation started climbing and, at 1222, fell in behind the lead 487th group. Group assembly was 1 minute early. Buncher 22 was reached I minute early and from this point to Great Yarmouth the lead group made a wide essing turn to get behind the 93rd Wing. The English coast was crossed going out at 1233 1/2, 1/2 minute early. The enemy coast was crossed on course and from here in, the Wing flew briefed course to 3 miles short of 0524N, 1043E, at which time a right turn was made and briefed course paralleled again, this time flying left of course to avoid flak which was being concentrated on another group ahead.

Because the Wing was flying slightly left of briefed course, the turn left at the IP was made onto the bomb run about 2 miles toward the target from the actual IP. The IP was never actually crossed over. On the bomb run, IP to the target, flak was fairly dense and accurate. After passing over the target, rally was effected without further incident. This will be covered thoroughly in Summary of Lost Aircraft. A wide sweeping turn was made left and around the RP. This was due primarily to the nose navigator not being properly oriented. Course was picked up a few minutes later at CP #4. Briefed course was flown to Friedberg where the Wing turned right and set course for last resort target. When the turn at the IP was made another force of B124's was sighted between our formation and the target preventing a complete run on the secondary. The formation then turned left and passed to the left of Koblenz, getting back on course at CP #5. Flak was encountered in the vicinity of Koblenz.

Briefed course out was followed and the enemy coast crossed at 1717 hours. The formation started letting down flying a direct course for home base, because of gas shortage. The English coast was crossed at 1740 with the formation still letting down. They were over the base at 1746 1/2 with the first ship landing at 1750 and the last at 1808.

Fighter coverage was excellent at all times although no enemy fighters were seen.

2. Aircraft Not Attacking: Twenty-six A/C scheduled to take-off. All of these plus 2 more took off making a total of 28 dispatched A/C. Three (3) A/C went out of commission before take-off time necessitating a change of ships. Two of these crews took off late in spare A/C but were unable to catch the formation. The three spare aircraft that were standing by on the ground took off and joined the formation when it was known that they would be needed. A/C #'s 506, 768 and 644 aborted due to ill crew member, supercharger trouble, and engine difficulties respectively.

Two of these joined the formation before aborting. Therefore, a total of 25 A/C got in formation as shown in attached diagram A. After this, two (2) ships aborted early and the lead of the low squadron, A/C #345, was blocked out of formation just before reaching the target making a total of 22 aircraft going over the target as shown in attached diagram B.

The lead squadron, consisting of 12 A/C dropped all their bombs on the primary target. After the lead ship of the low squadron aborted, the deputy leader took over while on the bomb run. Due to the confusion of the switch and clouds of smoke being over the target, the pilot of the ship informed the bombardier not to drop his bombs. Decision to bomb the secondary target never materialized for reasons discussed heretofore in paragraph 1. This squadron's bombs were jettisoned on the return trip out.

3. Summary of Lost Aircraft: The leader of the low squadron, Lt. Hicks, in A/C #345 was hit by flak near the IP and feathered #3 engine. He was unable to stay in formation but apparently tried to make a run on the primary target. He was seen following the formation on route out at a lower altitude, and was apparently last seen on course at a point about 30 miles from the Belgian coast. Last radio message received gave his position as South of Liege. A/C #764, Lt. Sanders was apparently hit by flak in the target area. A B-24 was seen to crash between the primary and the RP, and from 5 to 8 chutes were observed. It is believed that his A/C was #764, but no positive identification could be established.