Mission Analysis Report, 16 February 45

LT SNEDEKER

E-BL-3

HEADQUARTERS
486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
Office of the Operations Officer

MISSION ANALYSIS REPORT

Planning

DATE: 16 February 1945

GP MSSN NBR: 145

TARGET: (P) Hamm, Germany

ALERTED AT:1820

BOMB LOAD REC'D AT: 2320

WG AWO REC'D AT: 2318

WG F/O REC'D AT: 0340

DIV F/O REC'D AT: 0620

ZERO HOUR: 1300

FORCE REQUIRED: One (1) group of three (3) squadrons.

FORCE FURNISHED BY SQUADRON (PLANNED AND ACTUAL):

	832nd	833rd	834th	835th	Total
Crews	7 (5)	10 (8)	10 (11)	9 (9)	36 (33)
A/C	2 (2)	11 (9)	11 (12)	12 (10)	36 (33)

AIR LEADER: Major Howell (Wing Lead)

PARTICIPATING STAFF:
(1) Capt Simpson (Ld-Lo Sec, Ld Sq)
(2) Capt Whitney (Dep Gp Ld)
(3) Capt Steen (Ld-Lo Sq)

LEAD CREWS:
(1) Warmack (Gp-Ld)
(2) Scheopner (Dep Ld-Ld Sq)
(3) Raddatz (Ld-Lo Sec, Ld Sq)
(4) Bereman (Dep Gp Ld-Ld-Hi Sq)
(5) Patteson (Dep Ld-Hi Sq)
(6) Beard (Ld-Lo Sec, Hi Sq)
(7) Howard (Ld-Lo Sq)

BRIEFING OFFICER: Major Uhle

BRIEFING TIME: 0700

BOMB BRIEFING: Capt Scott

NAV BRIEFING: Lt Maurer

S-2 BRIEFING: Major Morriss

BOMBING ALTITUDE: 23,000'

POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "A" Group (Ninth group in Div formation)

ESTIMATED TIME OF TAKE-OFF: 1000

RETURN: 1555

ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP: 18,000' WG: 18,000' DIV: 18,000'

REMARKS:

Planning of today's mission was very good, enabling data to be assembled and imparted to combat crews more thoroughly and efficiently.

II.

EXECUTION:

TAKE-OFF: 1004-1048 RUNWAY: 25 WIND: 150° @ 5 MPH
A/C TAKING OFF.: SQ "A" 12 SQ "B" 12 SQ "C" 9 TOTAL: 33
ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP: 18,000', WG: 18,000', DIV 18,000'

ELAPSED TIME OF ASSEMBLY:
One (1) hour and thirty-one (31) minutes from take-off. Lead a/c reached assembly altitude (18,000') at 1059 and group was formed at 1135 hours.

ASSEMBLY (GP & WG):

Despite the fact that the Gee Box was inoperative in the lead a/c, a very good assembly pattern was made and group assembled rapidly at 18,000'. The squadrons were aided considerably in forming by the smoke dispensing a/c. Four (4) a/c were unable to take because runway was blocked for some time by an a/c with a flat tire. By the time it was cleared, weather conditions made it impossible for take-off and planes were ordered back to their hardstands. BUN 16, first point of Wing assembly was made on time, and the 94th group, although a little early, was able to fall into good position without difficulty.

ARRIVED 1ST PT WG ASS'Y LINE: 1205 - on time.

POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "A" Group (Ninth group in division formation).
DEPARTED CP "1": 1213 - on time
CLIMB TO ALTITUDE (ROUTE IN):
Climb to bombing altitude was started at 12xx hours. GP xxxxx reached on time at 18,300', about five (5) miles to the north. The route in was substantially as briefed, but several miles to the north. The Dutch coast, CP #2, was made good, but two and a half (2 1/2) minutes early at 22,600'. Bombing altitude was reached soon after the Dutch coast was crossed at 1246 hours. The balance of route in was flown very well and approximately as briefed.

TARGET MANEUVER:
At the Pre-IP, the group took squadron interval, and at the IP, the squadrons (A&B) split up into sections. The IP was over run by about five (5) miles at 1318 hours, ten (10) minutes earlier than briefed. On the bomb run, the low sections followed in trail and killing rate (except for low squadron bombing as squadron, because of only having eight (8) a/c and no PFF equipment in the lead a/c of the low section). Although the run was started on H2X, visual conditions were encountered, and the remainder of the run was done by visual sighting.

TARGET ATTACKED: (P) M/Y - Hamm, Germany

TYPE OF BOMBING: Visual (by section)

TIME OF RELEASE: 1328-1329

NBR A/C OVER TARGET: 32 out of 33

NBR A/C ATTACKING: 32

NBR SORTIES CREDITED GP: 32

TOTAL BOMBS LOADED ON A/C TAKING OFF: 396x500 lb. M-43

DISPOSITION OF BOMBS:

Primary Target:

M/Y Hamm, Germany	384x500 lb. M-43
Total Bombs Jettisoned	12x500 lb. M-43
Total Bombs Loaded on A/C T.O.	396x500 lb. M-43

BOMBING RESULTS:
"A", "B" and "C" squadrons dropped three patterns which so overlap that they cannot be scored individually. 85% of the bombs fell within a 2,000' circle and 49% in a 1,000' circle. The center of the pattern was 700 feet short. Approximately 30% of these bombs fell on the M/Y.

RALLY AND ROUTE BACK:
The rally was very well executed and even though the planes had to reform the sections into squadrons, all squadrons got together very well. All a/c lost 1,000' after bombs away and course out was as planned. Descent was made to 16,000' as briefed, and let down to minimum altitude was started at the Dutch coast (CP #3). The English coast was reached at 1527 hours at 4,000'.

RETURN TO BASE: 1544-1640

PFF OPERATION:
    Six (6) PFF a/c were scheduled for today's mission A/C #073 (M/O ROE) led "A" sq, a/c/ #075 (M/O HUMPHRIES) led low section "A" sq, a/c #025 (M/O TOLLIVER) "B" sq, a/c #035 (M/O GILKEY) led low section "B" sq, and a/c #002 (M/O ANEX) led "C" sq. A/C #132 (M/O WALTER) failed to take off because of weather.
     (M/O ROE) Performance of set was good. Beacon range was 180 miles. First three check points called to assist bombardier in locating MPI visually.
     (M/O HUMPHRIES) Fair performance of set. No sweep delay because of faulty range unit. Could not get even a trace of beacons. No way of checking points on bomb run. Entire run was visual.
    (M/O TOLLIVER) Very good set. Had beacons all the way. Called first two check points, then bombardier took over.
     (M/O GILKEY) Set worked well with 65 mile range. Bombardier took over after first two check points were called.
     (M/O ANEX) Set performed very good all day. All check points called even though bombardier took over visually before bombs away.

WEATHER:
    Fog prevailed over the base at take-off. Visibility was 500 yards. 10/10 low clouds and fog continued across the channel and continental coast, breaking to 6-9/10 with wide clearances inland. High scattered clouds along entire route with base 25,000' in target area.
     In the target area, visibility aloft was unrestricted with 2-4/10 low clouds between 2-3,000'.
    Route upon return was 10/10 covered with low clouds from 400' to 2,000' and visibility was approximately 1,200 yards.
     Free air temperature at bombing altitude (22,700') was -31°C.

COMMUNICATIONS:
Communications in general was very good. Progress and strike reports were sent in satisfactorily even though the lead radio operator's equipment failed. No major difficulties were encountered.
VHF discipline reported as fair. Contacts were completed satisfactorily.

E/A AND FIGHTER SUPPORT:
Meager, accurate, tracking type flak encountered in the target area. No enemy a/c were sighted.
Fighters could not be contacted but were present in the target area.

FORMATION:
Squadron and group formation was very good, except that the high squadron could have been in a little closer.

ABORTIONS (INCLUDING A/C OVER TARGET AND NOT ATTACKING):

A/C NBR	SQ	REMARKS	PILOT	SORTIE
008	834	#3 supercharger gov. out.	Patteson	No

MALFUNCTIONS: None.

EVALUATION OF LEAD CREWS (BY COMMAND PILOT):

	PILOT
	RADDATZ	Entire crew rated Sup. REMARKS: (P) Very clear thinker. Best of crew coordination and work.
	WARMACK	(N), (B) rated Sup. (P), (PPN), (C/O), (R/O), (M/O) rated Ex. REMARKS: (P) Good pilot. (N) Superior navigation. (PPN) Good pin-pointing. (B) On the target visually. (C/O) Good reporting. (R/O) Reports OK. (M/O) Took us to the target.

OFFICER TAIL GUNNER REPORTS:
(pilots receiving lower than average grades and why)

PILOT	SQ	GRADE	REMARKS
EWEN	833	F	Back and out.
GIBBS	833	P	Didn't fly close enough.
ELLERSICK	835	F	Back and out too much.
(Outstanding performance)
RADDATZ	832	Ex	Perfect formation
DAUENHAUER	834	Ex	Excellent position
MILLER, V.H.	834	Ex	Excellent position.
BEARD	835	Ex	Tightest formation yet.
CHILTON	835	Ex	Stayed in position all the way.

SUGGESTIONS AND REMARKS BY OTG's:
Guns were not test fired.

LOSSES: None

III.

CONCLUSIONS:

    The execution of today's mission was very satisfactory. Good planning and having the essential data well in advance of briefing time made it possible for briefing officers to properly present details of the mission to combat crews. This, of course, does not guarantee a successful mission, but helps considerably by laying a good ground work. Navigation was excellent, constituting a major factor in the ultimate success of the mission. Bombing results were good, a visual run being made.
     Bombing was done by six (6) plane sections, each squadron splitting up at the IP. The bombing runs were well executed, and no difficulty was encountered in bombing or reforming the group.
     Lead navigators should be thoroughly briefed as to the courses other groups in the Wing will follow in making good the assembly points. They can then anticipate the path of such other groups and plan their course to take position without unnecessary congestion at the assembly point.

For the Commanding Officer:

James F. Gardenhire
Major, Air Corps,
Adjutant