Mission Analysis Report, 26 February 45

LT SNEDEKER

E-BL-3

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

MISSION ANALYSIS REPORT

Planning

DATE: 26 February 1945

GP MSSN NBR: 153

TARGET: (P) Berlin, Germany

ALERTED AT: 1840

BOMB LOAD REC'D AT: 2255

WG AWO REC'D AT: 0035

WG F/O REC'D AT: 2202

DIV F/O REC'D AT: 0130

ZERO HOUR: 0900

FORCE REQUIRED: Two (2) squadrons plus lead a/c for low squadron

FORCE FURNISHED BY SQUADRON (PLANNED AND ACTUAL):

	832nd	833rd	834th	835th	Total
Crews	7 (7)	9 (9)	1 (1)	9 (9)	26 (26)
A/C	4 (4)	6 (6)	6 (5)	10 (11)	26 (26)

AIR LEADER: Capt Walker (Group Lead)

PARTICIPATING STAFF:
(1) Capt Simpson ( Dep Gp Ld, Ld-Hi Sq)
(2) Lt Eckenroth (Ld-Lo Sq)
(3) *Capt Baguley (Sq Nav)
(4) Capt Scott (Sq Bomb)
(5) Capt McNiece (Sq Bomb)
* Missions completed

LEAD CREWS:
(1) Warmack (Gp-Ld)
(2) von Platen (Dep Ld-ld Sq)
(3) Howard (Gp Dep Ld, Ld-Hi Sq)
(4) Cross (Dep Ld-Hi Sq)
(5) Hodges (Ld-Lo Sq)

BRIEFING OFFICER: Capt Miller

BRIEFING TIME:0430

BOMB BRIEFING: Lt Douglas, R. H.

NAV BRIEFING: Lt Maurer

S-2 BRIEFING: Capt Crabill

BOMBING ALTITUDE: 25,000'

POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "D" Group - tenth group in Div formation.

ESTIMATED TIME OF TAKE-OFF: 0845

RETURN: 1700

ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP: 15,000' WG: 15,000' DIV: 15,000'

REMARKS:

Today, because of battle damage the day before (lowered availability), the group only furnished the lead a/c for the low squadron, the balance of the a/c in the low squad being furnished jointly by the 94th and 447th Groups.

II.

EXECUTION:

TAKE-OFF: 0845-0859 RUNWAY: 25 WIND: 260° @ 26 MPH
A/C TAKING OFF.: SQ "A" 12 SQ "B" 13 SQ "C" 1 TOTAL: 26
ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP: 15,000', WG: 15,000', DIV 17,000'.

ELAPSED TIME OF ASSEMBLY: One hour and five (1:05) minutes from time of take-off. Lead a/c reached assembly altitude (15,000') at 0931, and group was formed at 0950 hours.

ASSEMBLY (GP, WG & DIV):

A good group assembly (though somewhat slow) was effected over BUN 22. The heavy load in the lead a/c caused excessive power settings to be used and resulted in assembly altitude being reached a little late. No difficulty was encountered for the low squadron during assembly. (lead a/c furnished by the 486th Group and balance of squadron by the 94th and 447th Groups). The group was completely formed as BUN 22 was departed, on time.
Preceding around the wing assembly line, BUN 12 was reached on time. At this point, 4D was forced to ess considerably to remain behind 4C, good position being taken on them after departing CP #1.

ARRIVED 1ST PT WG ASS'Y LINE: 1024 hours (on time)

POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "D" Group - tenth group in Div formation
DEPARTED CP "1": 1036 hours (on time).
CLIMB TO ALTITUDE (ROUTE IN):
Climb to altitude was begun as briefed at 1022 hours. CP #1 was departed at 1036 hours, on time at an altitude of 17,000'. Continuing the climb over the channel, course was south of briefed, and a point south of CP #2 was crossed at 1107 hours at altitude of 22,000'. Maintaining position in the bomber stream. A course slightly south of briefed was followed on balance of route in.
The airspeed maintained on the climb to altitude was faster than the SOP rate of climb and caused excessive power settings to be used. The high airspeed was probably due to the wing lead trying to narrow the interval between the 4th Wing and the preceding wing.

TARGET MANEUVER:
The group fanned out in squadron formation about four (4) minutes from the IP. (It was believed that the IP was too far from the Pre-IP for fanning out at this point). Turning on the IP in squadron formation, a good run was made on the secondary (PFF) target.

TARGET ATTACKED: (S) Berlin, Germany.

TYPE OF BOMBING: PFF (H2X) - sq form.

TIME OF RELEASE: 1232 1/2 - 1234 1/2

NBR A/C OVER TARGET: 24 out of 26

NBR A/C ATTACKING: 24

NBR SORTIES CREDITED GP: 24

TOTAL BOMBS LOADED ON A/C TAKING OFF: 156x500 lb. M-43 & 156x500 lb. M-17

DISPOSITION OF BOMBS:

Secondary (H2X) Target:

Berlin, Germany	144x500 lb. M-43	144x500 lb. M-17
Total Bombs Jettisoned	12x500 lb. M-43	12x500 lb. M-17
Total Bombs Loaded on A/C T.O.	156x500 lb. M-43	156x500 lb. M-17

BOMBING RESULTS: Unobserved.

RALLY AND ROUTE BACK:
Losing altitude of 1,000' after the target, rally was effected as briefed. Some difficulty was encountered at the RP because the preceding group cut that point short. The low squadron was inside and ahead of the group but eased into position after the RP. Route on out was substantially as briefed with descent to minimum altitude starting at Dutch coast (from 16,000'). Because most planes were running short of fuel (as a result of the long, fast climb), the wing leader authorized a dispersal of squadrons. From that point, squadrons preceding directly to home base.

RETURN TO BASE: 1703-1730

PFF OPERATION:
     Three (3) PFF a/c were scheduled for today's mission. A/C #025 (M/O BODZIN, Nav - GILKEY, Bomb) led "A" sq, a/c #075 (M/O ANEX) led "B" sq and (M/O WALTER) led "C" sq.
     (M/O BODZIN, Nav - GILKEY Bomb) Set performed very well. Target was picked up at 45 miles and run executed. All adjustments made on H2X. "A" scope drift method was used.
     (M/O ANEX) Performance of set was good with exception of excessive interference. Bomb run was made using H2X. Target was located at 45 miles and bomb run executed from there. "A" scope drift method used. Rate checks called starting with 70 deg. down to 45 deg.
    (M/O WALTER) Performance of set was good with exception of excessive interference. bomb run was made exclusively by H2X. The target was picked up at 60 miles, and after turn from IP, a 45 mile run was executed. "A" scope drift method was used. Check points were called from 70 deg. to 55 deg.

WEATHER:
There was 9/10 low clouds over base at take-off, and visibility was ten (10) miles. Low clouds broke to 2-4/10 over channel then became 10/10 from 0600E to target, tops at 14,000'. Target area was 10/10 covered, visibility aloft was unrestricted. Route out was the same except low clouds prevailed over England. Base on return was 2-3/10 low cloud covered with visibility ten (10) miles.
Free air temperature at 26,000' (highest altitude on route) was -37°C.

COMMUNICATIONS:
Communications was generally good within the group with no major difficulties being reported. VHF discipline was good as far as this group was concerned but needs considerable improving within the Wing and Division.

E/A AND FIGHTER SUPPORT:
Meager, inaccurate barrage type flak encountered in target area. No enemy a/c were sighted, and fighter support was very good.

FORMATION:
Formation was generally fair within the group. The fact that the rate of climb to altitude was excessive caused the formation to be strung out on most of the route in. Many individual a/c experienced difficulty in keeping up with the formation, ever after over-boosting.

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

A/C NBR	SQ	REMARKS	PILOT	SORTIE
311	834	Could not keep up with formation.	GIBBS	No
996	834	Internal eng. failure #2 engine.	ELLINGFORD	No

MALFUNCTIONS: None.

EVALUATION OF LEAD CREWS (BY COMMAND PILOT):

	PILOT
	WARMACK	(P), (N), (PPN), (R/O) and (M/O Nav) rated Ex. (C/O) rated VS and (M/Bomb) rated SUP. REMARKS: (P) is a little rough, (R/O) did his work very well, (M/Bomb) not a deg. change in heading from IP to target.
	HOWARD	Entire crew rated VS. REMARKS: Good work on part of entire crew.
	HUGHES	Entire crew rated VS. No remarks.

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

PILOT	SQ	GRADE	REMARKS
WOOD	832	POOR	Didn't uncover properly on bomb run. Very erratic.
WEBBER	832	FAIR	Out and back too far.
PANKOW	833	FAIR	Out and back too far.
MELAHN	833	FAIR	Lagged behind.
ELLERSICK	835	FAIR	Out and back too far.
STARRETT	835	FAIR	Out and back too far.
(Outstanding performance) None.

SUGGESTIONS AND REMARKS BY OTG's:
Wing a/c do not seem to form as fast as they should. They have a tendency to stay out until the last minute.

LOSSES: None.

III.

CONCLUSIONS:

    The lead (group and squadron) a/c were again too heavily loaded on today's mission. Difficulty was experienced in getting to assembly altitude, the climb of necessity, being slow. This slowed down assembly somewhat because wing a/c were getting to altitude sooner than the lead and were not finding anyone to form on, thereby milling about in an unorganized manner. Also, difficulty was experienced on the climb (reported fact), and leads were "forced" to use excessive power. Reported attempts and appeals to higher headquarters are being recognized, and it is felt that lead a/c bomb load will eventually be lowered to desired tonnage.
   The lead M/O (GILKEY) was highly praised for his excellent bomb run on today's mission. Group Air Leader is quoted with "Bomb run was perfect for lead. Not a degree change in heading from IP to target."
     Other that the lead decrease on load PFF a/c, no recommendations were forthcoming from Air Leaders.

For the Commanding Officer:

James F. Gardenhire
Major, Air Corps,
Adjutant

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