TARGET: MARSHALLING YARDS
FALKENBERG, GERMANY
19 APRIL, 1945

The marshalling yards at Falkenberg were the primary targets. These yards were vital for transportation into Berlin. The 457th comprised the 94th B Combat Wing with Captain Gibbons as Air Commander.

Assembly in Group and Wing formation was without incident, in proper position and on time. The first part of the l)ivisiou assembly line was flown slightly left of course, following the Division column.

Course to the IP was flown as briefed except that on the leg before the IP, the 457th deviated to the left of course about five miles to keep from ‘wer running the 401st, which was about 3,000 feet below the 457th fbrrnation. The Group then cut the last turn before the IP short, in order to gain time and come over the Ip on course. Squadrons took interval for a visual run on the No. 1 target.

All squadrons bombed the primary target visually. The lead squadron’s run was entirely visual. The low and high squadrons began a combination visual/G-H run, but the bombardiers took over about six minutes before the BRL and performed visual sightings. The MPI was identified about six minutes before the BRL by all squadrons. No difficulties were encountered. Bombs were dropped from 25,100 feet. Results were excellent. No antiaircraft fire was observed and no craft sustained damage.

For the assistance given in support of recent ground operation, the Commanding General of the French Ground Forces requested appreciation be conveyed to all participating units, stating the success of the operation was due in large measure to the excellent bombing.

A message was received from the Commanding General, 1st Air Division:

“THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF THE DAY ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COMMANDER IS TO BE DELIVERED TO EVERY MEMBER OF ALL HEADQUARTERS AND UNITS UNDER YOUR COMMAND:
‘TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE AEF: THE BATTLE OF THE RUHR HAS ENDED WITH COMPLETE SUCCESS. FOLLOWING HARD UPON THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE GERMAN FORCES WEST OF THE RHINE, THE TWENTY FIRST ARMY GROUP THRUST POWERFULLY ACROSS THAT RIVER WITH THE U. S. NINTH ARMY UNDER COMMAND. SIMULTANEOUSLY, RAPID DRIVES ACROSS ThE RHINE AND FROM THE REMAGEN BRIDGEHEAD BY TWELFTH AND SIXTH ARMY GROUPS PROVIDED THE SOUTHERN ARM OF A GREAT DOUBLE ENVELOPMENT, WHICH COMPLETELY ENCIRCLED THE ENTIRE GERMAN ARMY GROUP B, AND TWO CORPS OF ARMY GROUP H, WHOSE MOBILITY WAS RENDERED ALMOST ZERO BY OUR MAGNIFICENT AND TIRELESS AIR FORCES. THEREAFTER, IN THE POCKET THIS CREATED, THE TWELFTH ARMY GROUP ELIMINATED TWENTY-ONE ENEMY DIVISIONS, INCLUDING THREE PANZER, ONE PANZER GRENADIER AND THREE PARACHUTE DWISIONS.
OVER THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN THOUSAND PRISONERS OF WAR WERE CAPTURED INCLUDING TWENTY-FOUR GENERALS AND ONE ADMIRAL. MANY TANKS AND MORE THAN SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY GUNS WERE DESTROYED OR TAKEN. BOOTY IS IMMENSE AND STILL BEING COUNTED. THE ENEMY’S TOTAL LOSSES IN KILLED AND WOUNDED WILL NEVER BE ACCURATELY KNOWN.
‘THE RAPIDITY AND DETERMINATION WITH WHICH THIS BRILLIANT ACTION WAS EXECUTED TORE ASUNDER THE DIVISIONS OF FIELD MARSHALL MODEL, AND ENABLED ALL ARMY GROUPS WITHOUT PAUSE TO CONTINUE THEIR DRIVE EASTWARDS INTO THE HEART OF GERMANY.
‘THIS VICTORY OF ALLIED ARMS IS A FITTING PRELUDE TO THE FINAL BATTLES TO CRUSH THE RAGGED REMNANTS OF HITLER’S ARMIES OF THE WEST, NOW TOTTERING ON THE THRESHOLD OF DEFEAT.
(SIGNED) DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER”