Mission Date: March 24, 1945
STEENWIJK/HAVELTE AIRFIELD
100th BG Mission #: 287
Mission Summary
ON THIS DAY...MARCH 24, 1945
March 24 would mark the commencement of ‘Operation Varsity,’ the Allied drive across the Rhine River. The 8th Air Force would fly sorties against sixteen Luftwaffe airfields in western and northwestern Germany and a supply dropping mission in support of the Operation. A morning’s mission would target twelve airfields and a supply drop east of the Rhine while an afternoon’s mission would target four airfields in NW Germany.
With rumors flying around Thorpe Abbotts the previous evening about the possibility of two missions in one day, those that had heeded the warning of an early bedtime were somewhat rested when they were awakened at 0100 hours. At the very early briefing, thirty-eight crews learned their first target of the day. BOM William Wellings tells us, “We knew that it would have to be a short one but never dreamed it would be as nice as it was. It was the Steenwijk airfield just a few miles past the Zuider Zee.” No second or 3rd priority targets had been assigned and their bombs were to be returned if the first priority target could not be bombed visually. Wellings continued, “At briefing this morning we were told to hit this airfield if we had to make 10 runs to do it… We were briefed to watch out for the RAF towing gliders so I guess its something big all right. Don’t know what the deal is for tomorrow but there are rumors that its going to be the same thing.”
The 13th CBW would lead the 3rd Division’s column of B-17s and the 390th BG would fly as its ‘A’ group, the 95th as its ‘B’ and the 100th as ‘C.’ Leading the 100th would be Gibbons/Murray with the High led by Wilson/Wieland, the Low by Wooten/Dawson and the Low Low by Champion.
Under CAVU conditions for the fourth straight day, the 100th’s pilots took off with Group and Wing assemblies made as briefed. William Wellings, flying in Champion’s lead ship tells us, “Went in almost at the top of the Dutch coast and then turned right and went clean down to within 10 miles of Amsterdam at 13,000 and visual as could be but didn’t pick up a burst of flak.” The IP at Marken for the target was made good and the Wing peeled off for squadron runs on Steenwijk, where the 100th’s Lead, Low and Low Low bombed from a lower and warmer altitude of 13,240-14,241 ft. between 0849-0851 hours. With the High not releasing on its first run, the other squadrons executed 360 degree turns while the High made its second run over the target, dropping from 14,500 feet at 0923 hours.
With no flak and no fighters encountered, the heavy bombers returned to Thorpe Abbotts by 1030 hours, after a five hour “milk run“ and only two hours on oxygen. Wellings’ diary entry continued, “Landed, had a brief interrogation but no critique and ate lunch. No P.F.F. crews were allowed to fly both missions but quite a few wing crews did. They just had enough time to eat lunch and get back for briefing at 1210.”
Bombing Results
Bombing Results: GOOD
Aircraft Lost: 0
Crew Lost: 0
Claims of Enemy Losses (CLS): 0
Aircraft Returned:
Photos
STEENWIJK
Steenwijk Mission photo (from the collection of Keevin Moriarty)
