Mission No. Sixteen – September 27, 1944

Cologne, Germany – April, 1945

This mission was the first of 5 to Cologne that Dad did during the War. Cologne was a military area command HQ during WWII and it endured 262 air raids. This photo shows the devastation. In the upper left you can see the “Miracle of Cologne,” the Cologne Cathedral that suffered minimal damage compared to the rest of the city. Source: National Archives.

Target: Cologne – General City Area
Bomb Load: 12-500# G.P.
Gas Load: 2400 gallons
Briefing: 0430
Plane: R4890 – Queen O’Hearts
Position: #2, #3 Element, Low Sqdn., 41st “B” Gp.
T.O.: 0645 Land: 1248 Time: 6 hours, 3 minutes
Left Base: 0754 @ 19000′
Bombs Away: 0924; 25800′; -36 degrees C.
Distance: 825 SM

Remarks: Bombed by instruments. PFF. Intense & very accurate flak over target. Little damage because of excellent evasive action. Most flak I have ever seen. Flew thru it for 85 miles. Miracle we got thru. Very rough mission.

[Note: This was the 379th Bomb Group’s 210th mission.]