TARGET: RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION
SOEST, GERMANY
19 SEPTEMBER, 1944

Three boxes were dispatched to deal a blow at railway transportation in Soest, vital to the German forces fighting in Holland and the Ruhr. Other Eighth Air Force heavies attacked the marshalling yards at Hamm, as well as targets in the Ruhr Valley.

Comprising the 94th Combat Wing, the Group was first in the Division formation and was led by Col. Luper with Lt. Brackley as pilot. The Group led the Division across the Channel to the Belgian coast. The formation then flew the briefed course across northern Belgium, swinging south of the Cologne flak area and then northeast to the IP.

The lead box turned on the IF on course. For the first five minutes of the run, nothing was visible on the ground. The clouds then opened up momentarily and the bombardier was able to perform a sighting operation on the target. The low box bombed in trail.

The high box did not have proper interval at the IP since the low box was behind schedule. The high box swung wide and to the right. Contrails from the lead box were now making it impossible to see the ground. It then became necessary to move back to the left. When this was done the bombardier was able to see the ground and realized that the formation was on the eastern tip of the lakes, heading to the left of the briefed course. An attempt was made to turn back to the target, but by the time the formation levelled out, it had passed the bomb release line. It then continued on to a target of opportunity. In the meantime, the lead and low box had dropped their bombs from an altitude of 25,000 feet on the primary, although results could not be observed.

Nine aircraft of the high box became separated from the lead box because of dense contrails and generally bad weather. These planes salvoed their bombs on Hamm, Germany. The Wing Leader had deviated to the right of course in order to locate a target of opportunity for the remaining three craft in the high box. These planes dropped bombs on Emmerick on the Rhine River.

Flak encountered over Hamm was described as moderate but accurate. However, all ships returned safely with no battle damage. Due to weather conditions over England, only three aircraft immediately landed at Glatton. Others diverted to various bases.

Sgt. Albert G. Williams, 457th/751st gunner: Flying spare today for the first time. We had to go all the way to the Belgium coast before turning back. When we returned to the base, we found a 500-foot ceiling and had difficulty in landing. By the time the formation got back, the field was closed and as a result, the ships landed somewhere north of here. It should be a stand down tomorrow – besides, the weather is still bad.