TARGET: MARSHALLING YARDS
COLOGNE, GERMANY
5 OCTOBER, 1944

Although each of the three squadrons of the Group was assigned its own target, ten-tenths clouds caused the entire formation to attack the secondary target, the Cologne marshalling yards, by PFF. The primary target for the lead box was the Ford Motor Plant near Cologne. For the low box it was the oil refinery near Dusseldorf. The primary target for the high box was to have been a portable gas producing plant just west of Cologne. The 457th was sixth of nine groups in the Division line on targets in the Cologne area. Air Commander of the Group was Lt. Col. Wilson and Captain Fischer was pilot. The Group provided the entire 94th A Combat Wing.

Entering the Belgian coast at Ostend, the formation headed to Nijmegen. At this part of the flight the Division began to drift left of course, causing the Group to end up northeast of the IF. The bomb run was flown north of course.

The lead box released its bombs from 25,700 feet. The high box dropped on the smoke marker of the lead aircraft. Hindered by poor visibility and dense persistent contrails, the low box made an individual run, since the lead box was hidden from view by thick stratus clouds.

Over the target, heavy, accurate flak lasted for approximately five minutes. After bombs away, the three squadrons became separated because of prevailing weather conditions. The high squadron climbed to 30,000 feet, while the other two flew through the haze and contrails at the briefed altitude. The aircraft piloted by Lt. William T. Robertson landed at Antwerp with two engines out, but the crew subsequently returned safely. Eighteen craft sustained damage.

Fighter escort throughout the mission was very good. Complete cloud coverage over the target made bombing results unobserved.

Sgt. Albert G. Williams, 457th/751st gunner: Cologne was bombed with P.F.F. Intense FLAK. Came back with hole through prop #4, hole through Tokio tank, #2 engine knocked out by FLAK – unable to feather engine. We lost speed and had to leave formation right after bombs away. Complete undercast and sweated out our navigator. Engine finally froze up and stopped windmilling – finally feathered it and picked up speed again.