TARGET: AIR FIELDS
EUSKIRCHEN, GERMANY
10 JANUARY, 1945

Four air fields in the Aachen area were the assigned targets of the 1st Division. The Group comprised the 94th C Combat Wing with Major Snow as Air Commander. After assembly it became necessary to climb above briefed altitude to avoid weather conditions. The assembly course could not be flown because of weather.

Combat Wing assembly was not accomplished at the briefed point because of contrails and clouds. The Group was right of course because some elements of the 94th Combat Wing were just off to the left, having been forced there by weather conditions.

Division assembly line was not flown as briefed because of contrails, haze and clouds. Visibility was extremely poor and it was difficult to identify or determine whether the Group was in proper position. However, it is believed the Group was behind the 94th A Group instead of 94th B Group as briefed. Two squadrons of the Combat Wing were behind the 457th.

Over Belgium, the Group ran into haze and dense, persistent contrails. The low squadron became separated from the formation and later joined with the 351st Group, which in the meantime had succeeded in assuming its proper position behind the 40 1st Group. The 457th, deviating to both right and left of the briefed course to avoid existing weather conditions, continued toward the IP. The IP was reached seven minutes early because of the time initially gained in the route over England.

Bombing was by means of G-H equipment, because of ten tenths cloud coverage. The lead and high squadrons bombed in Group formation. The low squadron bombed with the 35 1st Bomb Group, just ahead of the 457th Group. The Group was about 3,000 feet above briefed altitude because of contrails and clouds. Results of bombing were unobserved.

Operational Route Forecast

The plane piloted by Lt. Frederick C. Gauss experienced engine problems near the IP. He feathered No. I and No. 3 engines, and No. 4 caught on fire. The crew bailed out over Belgium in Allied territory. Lt. Gauss failed to survive. His parachute did not open.

Lt. Robert H. Woods landed his aircraft in Belgium.

Lt. Edwin B. Benson, 457th/749th bombardier: Mission 24. Euskirchen. Air Field. Time 6.30. High. Lead. FLAK

Sgt. Leo I. McCombs, 457th/750th radio-operator: Take off at 09.40 – landing at 15.55. Carrying 4 hours of oxygen and 38 100lbs bombs. Results were good, visual bomb run, meager FLAK. 6.30 hour mission with temperatures of -56