| From Combat
Diary - Sgt Harley Tuck
|
|
Updated: 01/29/2004 |
| Frankfurt (Recall) Date: 24 January 1944 |
Return to Chronology of the 447th |
|
Mission Commentary Mission #10 21 A/C of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) took off between the hours of 0740 and 0817 on 24 January 1944 and performed a normal assembly over base. Due to cloud formation and poor visibility at flight level, no Wing assembly was made although control times were made good. The 447th Bomb Group turned inside Splasher 7 to avoid a closed formation. Control time at Clacton was made. Clacton was circled by the 447th Bomb Gp until 1002 hours but no other formations were sighted. The lead ship was forced to abort due to engine trouble and the deputy lead took over with instructions to effect a joining with another group in the other area and continue if possible. At 1005 hours the message to abandon operations was received. The Group then returned to base. |
Combat Roster
Details provided by Iver G. Igelsrud
| The 447 BG put up 20 aircraft
from Rattlesden plus one PFF ship from Alconbury to constitute the lead
group for this mission. A second group from the 447th (the "B"
Group) formed the High Squadron of a group from the 94th, proceeded to
France but was recalled as well. The original plan had included Hartzel E. Lewis (709th) in 42-31100 and Harold L. Kreuzer (709th) in 42-31108 to fly in the lead squadron but for some reason they were replaced by Perkins and Skinner instead. Perkins and Skinner were originally listed as 709 spares along with William P. Tigh (709th) in 42-39886. The designated spare for the "B" group was Edward Kaffun (710th) in 42-31160 (710th). [Asterisk indicates those crews receiving mission credit] LEAD
HIGH
LOW
B Group High Sqdn
|
From Operational Charts (Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group 1946)
| Mission No. | 10 |
| Mission | FRANKFURT |
| Date | JAN 24 |
| Field Order | 139 |
| A/C Airborne | 28+ 1 PFF |
| A/C Dispatched | 28+ 1 PFF |
| A/C Attacking | 0 |
| A/C Failing to Attack | 28 (Weather) |
| Bombs Dropped | |
|
No./Type |
|
|
Tons |
|
| Result of Bombing | |
| Bombing Altitude | |
| Time of Take Off | 0746 |
| Time of Landing | 1052 |
| Position in Combat Wing | LEAD 4CBW |
| Group Leader | Lt. Col. G. Y. Jumper |
| Confirmed Claims on E/A | |
| Destroyed | 0 |
| Probable | 0 |
| Damaged | 0 |
| Aircraft Lost | 0 |
| Casualties | |
|
K |
0 |
|
W |
0 |
|
M |
0 |
| A/C Battle Damage | |
|
Maj. |
0 |
|
Min. |
7 |
| Other Data |
| From Combat
Diary - Sgt Harley Tuck
|
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Much
to Crew #5's surprise, the C.Q. came in at 3:30 waking us up for a
mission. Briefing at 4:15 when they told us we were going to Frankfort
to bomb chemical works and railway yards and explosive factories. We
took off at 6:25 to fly high echelon for the 94th group. At takeoff we
had trouble with interphone; used emergency interphone on the command
modulating unit for an hour then switched back to interphone. Mac's
interphone jack box was shorted out. Our composite group reached the
rendezvous at 10 over the Channel; the 94's formation was very poor. The
trip was cancelled as we were 40 miles in France. On the way back out
ran thro some accurate flak, 2 small holes in ship. Got back to base at
12:30, after interrogation + putting up equipment went back to bed at 2
P.M. sleeping until 6 when Fred + I went to A.R.C. to get tea +
sandwiches, went to clean our guns and came back to go to bed at 10:30