MISSION NO. 137
MANNHEIM, GERMANY
19 OCTOBER, 1944

The 457th flew as the 94th A Combat Wing attacking the tank component and gun tractor works at Mannheim. Thirty-six craft were led by Lt. Col. Wilson. Assembly was 1,000 feet above briefed altitude because of weather, but the route over England was flown as briefed. After flying the Division assembly line on course and in proper position, the Group proceeded to the vicinity of Mons, Belgium. There the entire formation began to deviate south of course and the Group followed in Division formation.

Lead crew Lt. Fulton (Air Commander Lt. Col. Wilson)

About thirty minutes before the IF, the PFF equipment of the lead aircraft malfunctioned, and it was necessary to turn the lead over to the high squadron. Shortly thereafter, the PFF equipment of the low squadron went out. The high squadron overshot the IP, with the lead and low squadrons in trail.

Target Mannheim, Germany

The Group attacked Mannheim on a combined visual and PFF run. The turn was made southeast of the briefed IP. Check points to the target were only partially obscured, but the target area was covered by ten-tenths clouds. With the PFF equipment of the lead and low squadrons out, it was planned to drop bombs on the smoke markers of the high box. The low squadron released its bombs successfully from 27,500 feet, but the lead craft of the squadron became enveloped in clouds and contrails and had to turn left. As a result, it fell behind the formation. However, the Deputy Lead sighted the smoke markers and eight aircraft of the lead squadron released on them. The whole lead squadron then made a second run in order to allow the other three aircraft to drop their bombs.

Meager, inaccurate flak was encountered over the target.