Mission Date: March 24, 1945
ZIEGENHAIN, AIRFIELD
100th BG Mission #: 288
Mission Summary
ON THIS DAY…MARCH 24, 1945
At the second briefing of the day, thirty-eight crews learned that the 100th would be attacking the Luftwaffe’s night-fighter airfield located at Ziegenhain, south of Kassel. A second priority target would be the same but using the micro-H method while a third priority would be the marshaling yards at Siegen.
The 3rd Division would only fly the 13th CBW on this second mission. The 100th would lead its Wing with the 95th flying as its ‘B’ and the 390th its ‘C’ groups. Colonel Wallace would lead along with Jean DePlanque while the 100th’s High squadron would be led by Blanding/Rosenbaum, the Low by Robinson/Ellis and the Low Low by Hellerich.
Not all crews flew the double mission but those that did had changed ships and flying positions. All B17s departed Thorpe Abbotts around 1325 hours with Group and Wing assembly as briefed. With no issues on route to the IP, the Wing peeled off for squadron attacks on Ziegenhain with the 100th attacking between 1715-1717 hours from the higher altitude of 24900-23550.
While passing over the front lines on the return, light flak was encountered and when the formation returned at 1930 hours that evening, three ships did so with battle damage: B17 #602 flown by Lyman Fillingame returned with three holes and B17 #009 flown by Hellerich returned with damage. Having flown a total of eleven hours in one day, crews that had flown both missions were exhausted but happy to have earned double credit and speeding their return home.
Bombing Results
Bombing Results: EXCELLENT
Aircraft Lost: 0
Crew Lost: 0
Claims of Enemy Losses (CLS): 0
Aircraft Returned:
