Flight Operations Jan. 6th, 1945

[Nomde]

This is the After Action Report as it happened 60 years ago today, as taken from "Beware the Thunderbolt, The 56th Fighter Group in World War II" by David R. McLaren.

56th Fighter Group
January 6, 1945
VIII Fighter Command Flight Operation 1496-A

Bomber Command continued to concentrate on rail and communications targets in western Germany. This time only eight hundred “heavies” went out, covered by six hundred Mustangs. The only claims were for fourteen destroyed on the ground by P51's.

This mission marked the anniversary of the 56th Fighter Group’s sailing from New York.
Off at 0904, Major Leslie Smith led “A” Group with 37 Thunderbolts back to Siegen with each carrying one 500 pound GP. Major Conger led “B” Group off ten minutes later with 23 Thunderbolts to provide cover for “A” Group.
“A” Group bombed on their first pass over Siegen on Command from Nuthouse from 20,000 feet, but once again it was through overcast and the results were not noted.
Other then picking up some B17's to escort them home, the mission was uneventful and there were no signs of the Luftwaffe.

[Guppy35]

Don't think I'll name the books every time I do this.  If interested in the titles, check the first thread Nomde started for January 5th

4th Fighter Group

6 January 1945: F.O. 1496A-On a Penetration Target Withdrawl Support tp Limburg, Germany, Lt. Col. Dayhuff lead A Group from 0945 to 1420 hours while Major McKennon led B Group from 0955 to 1405 hours.  At 1402 the Group joined on B24s at 23,000 feet 15 miles southwest of Brussles-the bombers were nine minutes late.  At 1158 bombs were away through 10/10ths cloud and the Mustangs left the Big Friends south of Ghent at 1245.

359th Fighter Group

January 6, 1945 (0943-1347) 282
Lt. Col. Roy W. Evans leads A Group and Captain Andrew T Lemmens of the 370th FS leads B Group as the 359th flies escorts for B17s bombing communications targets at Kempernich, Germany.  Lt. Robert Beaupre crashes during take-off and perishes in the resulting fire.  A Group leaves East Wretham 20 strong and has no aborts.

B Group starts out with 40 Mustangs and has three return early.  R/V occurs over Liege, Belgium at 1030 and 24,000 Feet.  The bombing is done by radar and one B17 is lost.  No enemy fighters are encountered.  Three pilots from the 368th FS land on the continent but return later in the day.

479th Fighter Group

6 January 1945 Eighth AF FO 1496A
No 235 and 236 Saturday.  The group was divided into two forces A and B Groups.  Both penetration to targe and withdrawl escorts for 2nd AD B24s attaching their 8th AF Mission 783 primary target, a highway bridge over the Rhine River near Bonn, Germany.  Major Jeffrey lead A Group which consisted of 30 P51s up at 0931 hours and down at 1440 hours.  Major Jordan lead B Group, which consisted of 25 P51s up at 0936 hours and down at 1430 hours.  The combined groups had a total of three early returns.



Sounds like it was terrible weather again with the 9th AF Groups grounded and many of the 8th AF folks like the 339th not flying.

Dan/Slack