TARGET: MARSHALLING YARDS
MANNHEIM, GERMANY
9 SEPTEMBER, 1944

Although Ludwigshafen was briefed as a possible visual primary target, heavy cloud coverage caused the three twelve- aircraft boxes dispatched by the 45 7th to choose the marshalling yards at Mannheim as its PFF target. Being the sixth group in the Division formation, the Group comprised the 94th C Combat Wing, with all other wings in this force having the same MPIs.

The targets assigned to the 2nd and 3rd Divisions were the Mainz marshalling yards, and armament works at Dusseldorf,respectively. Taking off under hazy conditions, Major Watson, as Air Commander, with Captain Dozier as pilot, led the Group on the briefed course over England. Entering the enemy coast above Dunkirk, a direct southeast route was followed until the formation approached Mannheim. The Group, flying at 25,000 feet, determined to bomb Mannheim because of cloud cover and proceeded on a bomb mn. Three or four jet-propelled aircraft skirted the formation from a safe distance, but the fighter support was good and the enemy aircraft did not choose to attack.

Lead crew Capt. Smith

Lead crew Lt. Deal

Bombing was by PFF, and clouds obscured the pattern area of the bombs, but small breaks in the clouds at bombs away permitted estimation of the bomb hits. The pattern of the strikes appeared in Waidhof, the northern part of the city of Mannheim, about 12,000 feet from the assigned MPI. Several aircraft salvoed bombs creating a concentration of bursts covering an industrial area and the railroad bridge across the Industne Hafen.

The moderate to intense flak encountered at the target was accurate and of the tracking type. The crews were surprised, however, by unplotted accurate flak on the route back.

Crews reported observing vehicles of an armored force crossing the Rhine eastward at Germersheim, as well as a concentration of barges along the river banks. All planes returned safely, with five planes having received major and thirteen minor damage.

Duration of mission 8 hours

Lt. Edwin B. Benson, 457th/749th bombardier: Mission 4. Mannheim. Oil Depot, Time 8.00. High FLAK