TARGET: CRUDE OIL REFINERY
HAMBURG, GERMANY
20 JUNE, 1944

Crude oil refineries were the designated targets of a return trip to Hamburg. The Group was assigned the Europaische Tanklager-u-Transport A. G., the largest in Germany. It was located on the dock area of the Elbe River. Two 18 ship boxes were furnished by the Group. Major Theodore C. Hoffman was Air Commander and Captain Russell M. Selwyn was pilot of the lead B box. Captain J. L. Smith was Commander of the low B box, with Lt. Edward B. Dozier as pilot.

Bombing results were excellent, making the mission overall one of the most successful raids of the war. Approximately seven enemy aircraft were encountered by the Group. Antiaircraft fire was intense and accurate in the target area.

The craft piloted by Lt. William B. Bomar was hit by flak over the center of Hamburg. It lost two engines, was set on fire, and the tail was badly damaged. It went into a spin and exploded at 5,000 feet. Three of the crew died in the explosion. The exploding bombs at Hamburg sent flames thousands of feet in the air. The next day as the Group went to Berlin, the smoke was still boiling up through the clouds at 15,000 feet. Sixteen planes sustained damage.

The crew of Lt William B. Bomar was lost on this date.