Mission Analysis Report, 27 February 45

LT SNEDEKER

E-BL-3

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

MISSION ANALYSIS REPORT

Planning

DATE: 27 February 1945

GP MSSN NBR: 154

TARGET: (P) A/C engine factory (Leipzig, Germany)

ALERTED AT: 1715

BOMB LOAD REC'D AT: 2310

WG AWO REC'D AT: 2010

WG F/O REC'D AT: 0205

DIV F/O REC'D AT: 0050

ZERO HOUR: 1030

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

FORCE FURNISHED BY SQUADRON (PLANNED AND ACTUAL):

	832nd	833rd	834th	835th	Total
Crews	9 (9)	12 (12)	15 (16)	2 (2)	38 (39)
A/C	9 (8)	8 (9)	8 (9)	13 (13)	38 (39)

AIR LEADER: Major Newman (Wing Lead).

PARTICIPATING STAFF:
(1) Capt Simpson (Dep Gp Ld)
(2) Lt Heckersen (Ld-Hi Sq)
(3) Lt Eckenroth (Ld-Lo Sq)
(4) Capt McNiece (Sq Bomb)

LEAD CREWS:
(1) Howard (Gp-Ld)
(2) Hodges (Dep Gp Ld)
(3) Raddatz (Ld-Hi Sq)
(4) Shaw (Dep Ld-Hi Sq)
(5) Smith (Ld-Lo Sq)
(6) Patteson (Dep Ld-Lo Sq)

BRIEFING OFFICER: Capt Whitney

BRIEFING TIME: 0600

BOMB BRIEFING: Lt Aspholm

NAV BRIEFING: Capt Baguley

S-2 BRIEFING: Lt Carlin

BOMBING ALTITUDE: 26,000'

POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "A" Group (3rd gp in Div formation)

ESTIMATED TIME OF TAKE-OFF: 0915

RETURN: 1800

ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP: 7,000' WG: 7,000' DIV: 7,000'

REMARKS:

No difficulties encountered in planning today's mission.

II.

EXECUTION:

TAKE-OFF: 0915-1020, RUNWAY: 25 WIND: 250° @ 10 MPH
A/C TAKING OFF.: SQ "A" 12, SQ "B" 13, SQ "C" 14 TOTAL 39
ASSEMBLY ALTITUDE: GP: 9,000', WG: 9,000', DIV: 9,000'

ELAPSED TIME OF ASSEMBLY: One hour (1:00) from time of take-off. Lead a/c reached assembly altitude (9,000') at 0942, and group was formed at 1015.

ASSEMBLY (GP, WG & DIV):

Assembly altitude was changed from 7,000' to 9,000' in order to avoid clouds at briefed assembly altitude, and good group assembly was effected in a minimum of time. BUN 12, the first point on the wing assembly line was reached on time. The 4th "B" Group was early at this point, and after flying parallel to the 4th "B" Group for a while finally essed in to position. The 4th "C" Group was somewhat late in taking position behind the 4th "B" Group but was well closed up before CP #1.
Very good division assembly was effected at CP #1 when the 4th Wing fell into position behind the 13th Wing and departed the English coast in good order.

ARRIVED 1ST PT WG ASS'Y LINE: 1043 (on time)

POSITION IN TASK FORCE FORM: 4th "A" Group (3rd Gp in Div formation).
DEPARTED CP "1": 1056 (on time).
CLIMB TO ALTITUDE (ROUTE IN):
Climb to altitude was begun as the group departed the English coast, and maintaining a course slightly north of briefed across the channel, the French coast was crossed at 1126 hours (on time) at altitude of 15,000'. There was some essing up to this point (Div lead either essing or climbing slow) and even on to CP #3, and route was generally north of course. At 1000E-5100N, the Div lead overshot the turning point to the Pre-IP and while essing and trying to regain course, at the same time, trying to avoid flak areas, caused following groups to bunch up. During this time 4th (486th) endeavored to hold division and wing integrity, but 4C overran 4A&4B, later essing to regain proper position.

TARGET MANEUVER:
The squadrons took interval just past the Pre-IP and passed over the IP in squadron formation, wings level. A good interval was maintained between squadrons and an excellent H2X run made on the secondary target. Only a few minor corrections were made on the run, and bombing was accomplished on briefed heading.

TARGET ATTACKED: (S) M/Y - Leipzig, Germany.

TYPE OF BOMBING: (H2X) - sq formation.

TIME OF RELEASE: 1340-1342

NBR A/C OVER TARGET: 37 out of 39

NBR A/C ATTACKING: 37

NBR SORTIES CREDITED GP: 37

TOTAL BOMBS LOADED ON A/C TAKING OFF: 234x500 lb. M-43 234x500 lb. M-17

DISPOSITION OF BOMBS:

Secondary Target (PFF):

M/Y Leipzig, Germany	222x500 lb M-43	222x500 lb. M-17
Total Bombs Jettisoned	12 x 500 lb. M-43	12x500 lb. M-17
Total Bombs Loaded on A/C T.O.	234x500 lb. M-43	234x500 lb. M-17

BOMBING RESULTS: Unobserved

RALLY AND ROUTE BACK:
A good rally was effected after bombs away (2,00' altitude being last between the target and the RP). A near briefed course was flow on route out, descent to minimum altitude being made as briefed. Departing the French coast at Ostende at an altitude of 9,000', descent was continued over the channel.
After crossing the English coast at an altitude of 2,500', the group headed directly for base where normal landings were affected.

RETURN TO BASE: 1725-1757

PFF OPERATION:
     Four (4) PFF a/c were scheduled for today's mission. A/C #025 (M/O BODZIN - Nav, ANEX - Bomb) led "A" sq, a/c/ #657 (M/O WALTER) dep lead "A" sq, a/c #453 (M/O HUMPHRIES) led "B" sq, and a/c #218 (M/O-O'CONNELL) led "C" sq.
     (M/O-BODZIN Nav, ANEX Bomb) Performance of set was very good. Target was picked up at thirty (30) miles. All adjustments were made by H2X. Rate checks were called starting with 70 degrees, ending with 45 degrees.
     (M/O-WALTER) Report same as ld a/c.
     (M/O-HUMPHRIES) Performance of set was good. IP passed over as briefed and target was picked up at 50 miles. Bomb run was strictly H2X, and "A" scope drift method was used. Rate checks were called out.
     (M/O-O'CONNELL) Performance of set was fair to good. Briefed IP was made good. H2X technique was used exclusively, and target was picked up at 45 miles before turning at IP. All adjustments were made by H2X. "A" scope was not used. Rate checks were called from 70 to 65 degrees.

WEATHER:
Base at take-off was 9-10/10 low cloud covered. Visibility was 8 miles. 10/10 low clouds prevailed during the entire route in. Visibility was unrestricted. The target area was 10/10 low cloud covered. Visibility was still unrestricted. Route out was the same as route in. Base on return was 1-3/10 thin layered low cloud. Visibility was ten (10) miles. Free air temp at bombing altitude (26,000') was -35°C.

COMMUNICATIONS:
Communications today was excellent, and no major difficulties were encountered. VHF discipline was good.

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

FORMATION:
Very good formation throughout the mission both within the individual squadrons and for the group as a whole. Low squadron especially "on the ball." Squadron Air Leader (low) praised the element leads.

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

A/C NBR	SQ	REMARKS	PILOT	SORTIE
894	832	Internal eng. failure #2 eng.	Santa Anna	Yes
973	834	Cyl. head temp. gauge out. (Personnel failure).	Lilly	No

MALFUNCTIONS: None.

EVALUATION OF LEAD CREWS (BY COMMAND PILOT):

	PILOT
	HOWARD	(N), (PPN), (B), (C/O), (M/O), (R/O) rated Ex. (P) rated VS. REMARKS: (P) could use more instrument and C1 time. Crew worked good together. Should have more group leads before being wing lead.
	RADDATZ	Entire crew rated EX. No remarks.
	SMITH,W.P.	Entire crew rated EX. REMARKS: Crew worked together well.
	HODGES	(P) rated EX. (N), (PPN), (B), (C/O), (R/O), (M/O) rated VS. REMARKS: (P) has tendency to relax. Good coordination among crew.

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

PILOT	SQ	GRADE	REMARKS
None
(Outstanding performance)
ELLINGFORD	832	EX	Good position
HODGES	833	EX	Excellent position all the time.
SHAW	833	EX	Smooth, steady.

SUGGESTIONS AND REMARKS BY OTG's: None.

LOSSES:
A/C #943 (Pilot - Moore, 833 BS) was in position up to approximately ten (10) minutes before bombs away. All engines were running, but the a/c was moving from side to side and seemed to be having engine trouble. After dropping out of position, the a/c was unobserved. Further details are lacking and crew is assumed MIA.

III.

CONCLUSIONS:

     With today's mission reports from this headquarters to 4 CBW and 3 AD went the following comment on the overloading of lead PFF a/c:
     Command and lead crew pilots are increasingly stressing their desires that bomb load on lead PFF a/c reduced to compensate for drag of scope, extra men, and external smoke bombs. Overloading those a/c is definitely handicapping the efficient, smooth running operation of group and squadron leads. lead a/c should be easy to fly and should be able to maintain SOP rates of climb and air speed, which would increase the standard of formation flying with the groups and squadrons and allow for more efficient running of the mission in general. Above 20,000', these lead a/c are especially sluggish and tend to lose aileron control. This morning, one lead had trouble getting off the ground with the lead and extra drag of scope and external smoke bombs.
     The following excerpt from 4 CBW recommendation (on their analysis report to 3 AD) is quoted:
   All Air Leaders expressed disapproval of present bomb load in PFF a/c and recommend a lighter [?] lead a/c. Over loading those a/c is handicapping the smooth running operation of group and squadron leads, especially above 20,000' where SOP climbs and air speed are difficult to maintain.
     No definite word has been received of any final decision.
     Today's mission was executed very well. Only difficulties encountered were weather at assembly (forcing group up 2,00' to form) and the bunching of groups in the turn to the Pre-IP (caused by poor navigation on part of 13A, the Div lead, when he got off course - explained fully under II EXECUTION). The navigation on the part of our group (wing lead) was excellent. The bombing was H2X, and from all indications, the runs were very good. The IP-Target course was near perfect from a navigation standpoint, very few and minor corrections being made on the run. And the formations were well above average. All concerned are to be commended for a very well run mission.

For the Commanding Officer:

James F. Gardenhire
Major, Air Corps,
Adjutant

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