Declassified by the Air Force Historical Rsearch Agency

C O N F I D E N T I A L

 

HEADQUARTERS 486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)

APO 559

 

SUBJECT:  Results of Bombing on Hamburg, Germany and Einswarden, Germany, 4, August 1944.

 

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

 

      A - Group being unable to bomb the primary target because of cloud cover, dropped a pattern on a railway bridge and on adjacent highway bridge across the main channel in Hamburg Harbor.  This pattern measures approximately 1000' x 1500' and is almost perfectly centered on the selected MPI.  The errors are as follows.

 

CE

500

1000

2000

-

-

-

-

0

27%

68%

100%

 

It is believed that each of these bridges was hit directly by two or more bombs.  Additional damage was probably done to piers and other harbour installations.

 

      B - Group dropped a pattern on the Secondary Target, pictures of which are badly obscured by both clouds and deep shadow so that it is impossible to score accurately.  The MPI of this pattern however extends back to the assigned MPI on which there is a possible hit.  The pattern appears to cover approximately 95% of the target area.  This area contains the following buildings which may possibly have been hit.

  • Boiler house.

  • Offices or canteen.

  • Offices

  • Work shop.

  • Hangar.

  • Works complex.

             For the intelligence officer:

 

 

RALPH D. SHEARER

1st. Lt., Air Corps.

PI Officer

 

Flimsy

Copyright © 1998-2024, 486th Bomb Group Association.