Mission No. 174
6 Oct 1944
Station: A-73
Target: Communications Center at Aldenhoven, Germany
Time Of Take-Off: 10:04 / Time Over Target: 11:21 / Time Landed: 14:15
36 B-26 aircraft loaded with 4x1000LB General Purpose bombs were dispatched to attack an enemy Communications Center at Aldenhoven, Germany. As there is no Field Order in the mission records, details of fighter escort and/or cover is unavailable.
Weather conditions were 2 to 3/10 low clouds with light haze over the target area.
No FLAK was encountered enroute, but the formation experienced Heavy, Moderate to Intense, Accurate FLAK over the target area. Each flight made 2 bomb runs over the target with 23 aircraft sustaining battle damage.
Cpl. James J. Mallen, White's waist gunner in a/c 810-C, was slightly wounded by flak. Capt. Kenneth W. Mitchell, pilot of a/c 576-V and his bombardier, Capt. Ross H. Buk, were both slightly wounded by flying glass caused by FLAK. Capt. Herschel S. Harkins, pilot of a/c 837-N; and 1/Lt. Don W. Allen, bombardier in a/c 820 were also slightly wounded by flak. S/Sgt. Lloyd A. Ernsting, flight engineer of a/c 309-G, was slightly wounded by flak in his cheek. Sgt. Carl M. Zayonc, Walter's engineer/gunner in a/c 747-T, was seriously wounded.
A pattern of bombs from the 1st flight of the 1st box fell about 800 feet E of DMPI in open fields. The lead bombardier of the 2nd flight was unable to pick up primary due to haze. The flight bombed the town of Julich about 3 miles ENE of primary. A dispersed pattern of bombs is seen across residential areas in center of town with hits on two roadways and one large building. A pattern of bombs from the 3rd flight of the 1st box fell about 700 feet ENE of DMPI with probable hits on two buildings. Results were rated as FAIR for the 1st and 3rd flights respectively.
A dispersed pattern of bombs from the 1st flight of the 2nd box fell about 1,500 feet N of DMPI across one roadway and in open fields. A dispersed pattern of bombs from the 2nd flight fell about 200 feet NE of DMPI across two roadways with hits on several buildings. The lead bombardier of the 3rd flight was unable to pick up primary due to haze. Flight bombed town of Julich about 3 miles ENE of primary. Dispersed pattern fell in central part of town across one roadway with hits on at least 6 buildings. Results were assessed as POOR and EXCELLENT for the 1st and 2nd flights respectively.
The hydraulic system of a/c 841-A was shot out and Shoemaker and crew made a belly-landing. The aircraft was later repaired.

SECTION VALUE
Field Order:0
Reel:B0438
Page Start:0
Mission:174
Date Order Sent:30 Nov -0001
Zero Hour (Day number + Time):
Target(s) (Primary, Secondary, Alternate):
Fighter Escort:
Rendezvous:
Route Out:
Route Back:
Altitudes:
Initial Point (IP):
Axis of Attack:
Emergency Airdromes:Field Order not found in records !
Intervalometer Setting:
Bomb Load:
Purpose/Notes/Time Over Target:
OPFLASH
SECTION VALUE
Reel: B0438
Page: 763
Field Order: 0
A(i) Target Ordered: Aldenhoven
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): 36-0-0
C(i) Time Up: 10:04
C(ii) Time Over Target: 11:21
C(iii) Time Down: 14:15
D(i) No A/C: (missing-destroyed-damaged(cat. B-A/C)-Damaged(Cat. A)): 0-0-2-21
D(ii) Enemy A/C: (destroyed-prob. Destroyed-Damaged): 0-0-0
D(iii) No. Crew: (killed-wounded-missing): 0-7-0
E. Results Of Bombing: good to excellent
F(i)(A) Enemy Opposition Over Target: nil
F(i)(B) Enemy Opposition Elsewhere:
F(ii)(A) Flak Over Target: HF M to I ACC
F(ii)(B) Flak Elsewhere:
G. info,Observations, Hot News:
H(i) Weather Affecting Bombing: 2 to 3/10 low clouds with light haze.
H(ii) Weather En Route:
I. Bombs On: (primary-secondary-other-jettisoned-returned): 141-0-0-2-1 (1000gp)
J. Altitude Of Attack: 12500 to 11500
View Crew Loading Lists for Mission No. 174
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
803-K
Brockway
572
740-V
Lipschultz
572
836-N
Fry
572
806-M
White
572
810-C
Detwiler
572
427-B
Box #1 - High Flight
Miller
572
425-A
Mackay
572
418-J
Reynolds
572
313-Z
Kelley
572
429-U
Phalon
572
748-Q
Gates
572
337-P
Box #1 - Low Flight
Mitchell
575
576-V
12
Saunders
575
833-U
Martin
575
156-X
9
Tavener
575
678-M
11
Harkins
575
837-N
10
Timbers
844-D
13
Rutledge
575
268-K

Box #2 - Lead Flight
Hollis
574
927-N
Hillier
574
818-L
Chism
574
720-R
Horridge
574
361-M
Matus
574
865-D
Ryan
798-K
Box #2 - High Flight
Bush
574
815-W
Detjens
574
144-M
Evans
574
841-S
Mickelson
574
866-X
Stevenson
574
838-B
Lesmeister
574
248-V
Box #2 - Low Flight
Boone
573
309-G
Mosher
573
634-J
Walter
573
747-T
Holliday
573
252-Z
Shoemaker
573
841-A
Dent
573
820-
Abraham
573
227-K
Box #2 - Extra Flight/Spares
Spare Lead
671-L
Spare
028-Y