MISSION NO. 55
TARGET: FW-190 ASSEMBLY PLANT
OSCHERLEBEN, GERMANY
30 MAY, 1944

In the fourth deep penetration into Germany in as many days the 457th Group took off to bomb the FW 190 aircraft assembly plant at Oscherleben, once again in production after a pounding on April 11th. Aircraft engine and assembly planes at Halberstadt, Bernberg and Dessau were targets for other 1st Division Wings while B-24’s of the 2nd Division were assigned fighter airfields at Rotenburg, Oldenburg, Zwischenahn, Diepholz and Handorf.

Major William F. Smith (Air Commander) and Captain Clarence E. Schuchman (Pilot) led the group when it took off at 0730 with a load of incendiaries to fly in the high box postition of the 94th Wing, fifth in the Division assembly line.

Lead crew Major Smith and Captain Schuchmann

The route in departed from the 5237 Egmont (the Netherlands) – Hanover track just west of Dummer lake where it took the formation souteast, below the great Harz Forest, with a turn up to the I.P. situated in a clearing in the eastern end of the Forest over the village of Salzsberg.

Track chart Oscherleben

Here the Wing leader was forced to attempt a bomb run on a different heading from the briefed one because of a concentration of Wings in the area, the three Wings going to Halberstadt and Bernberg, targets just to the left and right of the run to Oscherleben. On this run the 94th Wing shuffeled the deck with another Comnat Wing causing the lead and low boxes to turn right and left respectively. The 457th high boxbeing higher and above the other Combat Wing was able to continue on the bomb run which put it ahead of the other two boxes instead of to the rear. The lead box however decide to make a run from it’s off course position on the right and passed under the 457th box near the B.R.L. Along the run and at this time the bombardier, Lt. Blachley, was having trouble in cranking drift out of his sight and at the B.R.L. the course hair was still moving. He asked for a 360. It was decided to make one because of this and because the lead box was underneath. A turn to the right was made and a run started from the east instead of from the south. Again the course hair gave trouble but were on the target at bomb away. They fell 3,600 feet south of the assembly point in open fields. Inspection revealed the gyro was not level probably because by a short found in the electrical circuit and a precession of the gyro itself. However the lead and low boxes had laid their 500lb. G.P.’s squarely on the assembly plant area.

Target Oscherleben, Germany

While effecting a rally of the Wing about 30 Me 109’s attacked the lead and low boxes enmasse shooting down two B-17’s. Only one pass was made.

The rest of the route home around Brunswick and Hanover was uneventful except for some FLAK in the Vechta region. The most pleasent surprise of this mission was the absence of FLAK over Oscherleben when the crews had been briefed on 18 guns there.

Base was reached at 1404 and landing was made to bring to a close the fourth succesive day of excellent visual bombing weather over all of Germany.