DECEMBER 1944

HEADQUARTERS 49^th BOMBARDMENT WING

Commanding Officer, 461^st Bomb Group

 Operations : (Extract)

Seventeen combat missions were flown during the month of December.  Seven of these missions were against the enemy’s bit synthetic oil refineries in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany; eight were against marshalling yards and two were against railroad viaducts.  The complete list of targets attacked was probably the roughest for any month since July.

The losses during the month attested to the roughness of the targets.  Personnel losses totaled three killed, nine wounded, and 125 missing in action.  Of the 324 planes that flew effective sorties, 63 were damaged by flak and fighters, and 19 others were lost.  In the only encounter during the month with enemy fighters our crews claimed 24 destroyed and five probably destroyed.

 (Extract)

Mission No. 151, 17 December 1944 – Odertal Oil Refinery, Germany

Captain Mixson took off on 17 December with thirty-one airplanes to attack the synthetic oil refinery at Odertal, Germany.  There were five early returns.  Only fifteen of the twenty-six remaining airplanes reached the target.  The bombs were dropped through a solid undercast with unobserved results.

To minimize drag and thus conserve gasoline for the long mission, the gunners had been briefed to stand by to lower the ball turrets but not to actually lower them until the IP, Zuckmantel, was reached.  Near Muglitz, just south of the initial point, the Group was attacked by upward of fifty Me-109s and FW-190s.

The attack lasted approximately fifteen minutes during which the enemy used both rockets and 20 mm cannon.  Passes were made mostly in pairs from 5:00 to 7:00 o’clock low with breakaways also low.  The bombers that returned to the Base claimed twenty-four of the attacking fighters destroyed and five probably destroyed.  Despite the fact that the ball turrets had the advantage of computing sights and the most favorable position against low attacks, they fired the fewest number of rounds and claimed the fewest enemy airplanes of any position on the bombers.  Of a total of 12,620 rounds of ammunition expended, the ball turrets expended but 1365 rounds.

As a result of the fighter attack, nine planes in the formation were shot down and a tenth one was lost to ditching while in the traffic pattern near the Island of Vis. In all, ten planes were lost, five others were damaged, three individuals were killed, two were wounded, and ninety-three were missing in action.

On the way home from the mission, while north of Vienna, Captain Mixson was checking the number of planes left in his formation over the radio when a German voice, apparently using our radio frequency, broke in with the proper call sig to ask, “Where is the rest of your formation?”, laughed, and signed off.

Killed in ditching were 1st Lt. Eugene P. Ford, 1st Lt. Russell C. Landry, and T. Sgt. Charles E. Priest.  The wounded were Sgt. Archie S. Russell and Sgt. Walter L. Franks.  Missing in action were the crews of the following pilots:  1st Lt. Robert A. Galvan; 1st Lt. Charles v. Lang, Jr.; 2nd Lt. Frederick B. Capalbo; 2nd Lt. Philip J. Crossman; 2nd Lt. Max M. Hailey; 2nd Lt. Nicholas Sidovar; and 2nd Lt. Gerald R. Smith, Smith; 2nd Lt. Kenneth B. Smith; and 2nd Lt. Thomas J. West.

MISSING IN ACTION - Mission No. 151, 17 December 1944 (Extract)

and more 122 flyers …Totally 132 Flyers…

Commendation

From: 49^th Bomb Wing

To: 451^st, 461^st, 484^th Bomb Groups.  Attention:  S-3 Officers

“Recent photographs coverage has proved that our relentless attacks have dealt crippling blows to the Hun and his most vulnerable spot -- his sources of oil.  Definite information verifying the effectiveness of the tremendous effort the combat and service units of this Air Force have been called upon to exert compensated in measure for the sacrifices entailed.  I realize that in ordering deep penetrations into enemy territory with unfavorable weather adding to the hazards of combat, I have required the personnel of this commend to exert a supreme effort.   It is heartening to know that such an effort has been crowned with success.  The devastated refinery of Blechhammer North bears witness to the valor, the outstanding flying proficiency and professional skill of our combat crews and to the determination of their combat leaders.  I commend the fighter pilots and their leaders on the brilliant performance of their escort assignments. I congratulate the service units and the maintenance personnel f the tactical units on their excellent response to the arduous demands made upon them.  We know that our campaign is progressing favorably and that our successful attacks on the enemy in the recent months will hasten his complete and utter defeat.”

 (Signed)   TWINING

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