Mission Date: February 28, 1945
KASSEL, MY
100th BG Mission #: 269
Mission Summary
ON THIS DAY...FEBRUARY 28,1945
After a Stand Down on the 27th, thirty-eight crews were seated at the morning briefing where they learned that they would be attacking the locomotive depot and marshalling yards at Kassel for a Primary target with the same target using the H2X method as a Secondary.
The Hundredth would be leading its Wing, and its own Commander, Frederick Sutterlin would fly as the Command pilot . Sutterlin would fly lead with John Williams while the High squadron would be lead by Gibbons and Murray and the Low by an unknown Captain* flying with Jack Thrasher.
The ships were loaded up with fourteen 500 pound bombs and pilot Laurence Lazzari remembered, “With this 7000 pound bomb load, I have a vague recollection that the Colonel personally briefed us on the extra 1000 pounds, and that he would take off first, and if he made it then he expected everyone to follow.” All thirty-eight ships took off as expected between 1035-1100 hours.
With no issues during assembly, the Wing’s formation crossed the channel easily although one of the 100th's ships aborted the mission before reaching the IP, due to #4 engine failure. Leaving the formation at 1348 hours, its bombs were dropped on a Target of Opportunity on the way out.
Flying in a 10/10 undercast over the Continent, the fighter escorts were picked up on time and their support was reported as excellent. As the IP was neared, the intense flak could be seen ahead of them on other groups. Flak protection was donned and the formation prepared for a squadron peel off for the attack.
Donald Becker recorded, “The flak on the target was fairly heavy but very inaccurate & bombs were away without much trouble - We plastered the city with 14 500 pounders the biggest bomb load we’ve carried yet tho the undercast concealed all we did…” Fortunately for the 100th’s squadrons, although intense, the flak tracked more directly on other groups.
There were no enemy fighters and it was deemed “a perfect mission.” It is unknown which crew flew the ship named 'Andy’s Dandy’s' that day, but they were one lucky crew. It would be the only ship returning with battle damage, doing so with an unexploded 88 mm shell that had passed thru its left inner wing panel at station 17, going through #9 tokio tank.
This mission would be the last for the 350th’s Alvin Meiklejohn crew, who could now celebrate the end of their tour. Normally flying 'Mile High Minnie' named after the pilot’s home town, the crew had arrived to Thorpe Abbotts in September 1944.
Bombing Results
Bombing Results: FAIR
Aircraft Lost: 0
Crew Lost: 0
Claims of Enemy Losses (CLS): 0
Aircraft Returned:
Photos
Kassel Feb 28, 1945
Flying towards Germany on 28 Feb 45. (100th Photo Archives)
