TARGET: MARSHALLING YARDS
FULDA-PLAUEN, GERMANY
19 MARCH, 1945

The marshalling yards at Moblis were the primary target, with Plauen as the secondary target, and Fulda the target of last resort. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing, with Major Stann as Air Commander.

Wing assembly was accomplished without incident. Deviations to the right of course along the Division assembly line were necessary in order to follow the Division bomber stream. The Group had to climb to briefed altitude plus 1,300 feet, along the route, in order to avoid thick weather conditions. Weather conditions became increasingly more difficult.

Haze and dense, persistent contrails above 15,000 feet caused constant interference. Accordingly, the formation climbed to 26,000 feet (briefed plus 1,500 feet) in order to get above existing weather.
Weather in the area of Moblis prevented bombing visually. The Group was forced to execute a 360 degree turn to the right on the last leg before the IP, because contrails and three groups coming from the left had crowded the 45 7th off course. The high squadron became separated from the Group at this point. The PFF Operator was unable to pick up the other targets. A run was then attempted on Saalfeld, but just before the BRL, another group passed beneath and prevented the lead and low squadrons from releasing their bombs. The PFF Operator then picked up Fulda. As the two squadrons approached the target, weather conditions had cleared sufficiently to allow the formation to let down to 24,700 feet. A visual run was made on this target, with squadrons in trail. Results were good. The high squadron, after becoming separated from the other two squadrons, made a PFF run on the secondary target. Bombing was done from an altitude of 28,000 feet, because of cirrus clouds, contrails and haze. Cloud coverage was ten-tenths.

The lead and low squadrons accomplished Group rally and followed the approximate briefed course. After having crossed friendly lines, the Air Commander gave permission for aircraft low on fuel to land on the Continent, and twenty-one aircraft landed for refueling.

The high squadron proceeded out individually, and its leader also gave permission for aircraft low on fuel to land on the Continent. Eleven aircraft landed there.

Antiaircraft opposition had been light and no craft had sustained damage.