Mission No. 172
29 Sep 1944
Station: 166
Target: Enemy Fortifications at Webenhein, Germany
Time Of Take-Off: 06:40 / Time Over Target: 08:40 / Time Landed: 10:30
36 B-26 aircraft loaded with 8x500LB General Purpose bombs were dispatched to attack enemy fortifications at Webenhein, Germany. The fortifications are known as "Dragon's teeth" which are square-pyramidal blocks of reinforced concrete designed to impede the movement of tanks and mechanised infantry. 19th Tactical Air Command will furnish escort.
Lipschultz and crew in a/c 820-S returned about 20 miles after leaving the field because could not keep up with formation. He later commented that pre-flight checks had not been carried out when the crew got to the ship.
Weather conditions were 8 to 10/10 low clouds and fog over the target area.
Heavy, Weak, Inaccurate FLAK was encountered over the target area with 5 aircraft sustaining battle damage.
The formation did not bomb due to the weather conditions. All of the group's aircraft landed away from base at RAF Manston and Brussels. Some reported that they did so to refuel, and some returned the following day, perhaps because bad weather prevented their return.
SPECIAL NOTE: This was the group's last mission flown from their base at Station 166, Matching Green, England.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:293
Reel:B0438
Page Start:478
Mission:172
Date Order Sent:28 Sep 1944
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):290800a
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):Webenhein.
Fighter Escort:19th TAC will furnish escort.
Rendezvous:With fighters at 10 miles South Charleroi at 11500 feet at zero hour minus 10 min.
Route Out:Base to Furnes to F/R 4853n0713e 4903n0726e to target.
Route Back:Target turn left to Charleroi retrace.
Altitudes:11500 feet, minimum is 8000 feet.
Initial Point (IP):4903n0726e.
Axis of Attack:340 degrees.
Emergency Airdromes:Bombing will be done by flights.
Intervalometer Setting:30 feet.
Bomb Load:8x500gp 1/10 1/100 fusing.
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:Zero hour minus 10 min.
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0438
Page: 481
Field Order: 0
A(i) Target Ordered: Targets in Germany
A(ii) Target Attacked:
B(i) Group: 391
B(ii) No. Of A/C Off By Type: 36 B-26
B(iii) No. A/C Failing To Bomb: (weather-personnel-mechanical-other): 0-0-0-0
B(iv) No. A/C Bombing: (primary-secondary-other): 0-0-0
C(i) Time Up: 06:40
C(ii) Time Over Target: 08:40
C(iii) Time Down: 10:30
D(i) No A/C: (missing-destroyed-damaged(cat. B-A/C)-Damaged(Cat. A)): 0-0-0-5
D(ii) Enemy A/C: (destroyed-prob. Destroyed-Damaged): 0-0-0
D(iii) No. Crew: (killed-wounded-missing): 0-0-0
E. Results Of Bombing: nil
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target:
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere:
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: HF W INACC
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere:
G. info,Observations, Hot News:
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: 8 to 10/10 low clouds and fog at target
H(ii) Weather En Route:
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 0-0-0-0-280 (500gp)
J. Altitude Of Attack: 11500
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 172
DIAGRAM NOTES:

Pilot and crew are not shown on crew loading lists where Squadron field of aircraft is blank.

All aircraft not participating in this mission (e.g. Spares, Abortive) are shown in yellow.

All aircraft damaged by FLAK are shown in orange.


Box #1 - Lead Flight
Schleicher
572
811-G
6
Brown
572
740-V
15
Lipschultz
573
820-S
21
Detwiler
573
319-R
19
Fry
572
836-N
14
Brockway
572
947-U
15
Box #1 - High Flight
Roeper
572
808-X
13
Mackay
572
810-C
8
Koehl
573
227-K
27
Dewitt
572
427-B
9
Knight
572
799-T
15
Reynolds
572
313-Z
7
Box #1 - Low Flight
Chatellier
572
425-A
8
Phalon
572
748-Q
6
White
572
812-D
11
Penneman
573
309-G
24
Gates
572
815-R
16
Kelley
573
028-Y
18
Coffin
573
747-T
26

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Loesch
574
931-F
34
Morris
574
248-V
30
Lowe
574
838-B
35
Newman
575
847-H
41
Proctor
574
807-J
36
Henage
574
865-D
34
Box #2 - High Flight
Salmon
574
927-N
32
Evans
574
597-P
32
Tomon
574
866-X
31
Watson
574
144-H
30
Talton
574
720-R
31
Ryan
574
326-O
30
Box #2 - Low Flight
Bischoff
574
841-S
29
Lowder
574
818-L
29
Stevenson
575
964-G
43
Mickelson
575
843-J
45
Brown
575
833-U
47
Matus
575
620-B
41
Sherwood
575
743-W
40
Box #2 - Extra Flight/Spares
Spare Lead
810-W
25
Spare
227-K
27
Spare
671-L
42