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On this day the 492nd was involved in two misisons. This mission, number 62, was the morning mission. They were sent to Kiel, Germany, to attack a gas plant there. The Group dispatched 23 crews under the command of Turner. At this time we don't know who Turner is, only that he flew on one of the Pathfinders furnished by the 44th BG. None of the planes had to abort.
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Perhaps the number of escort fighters assigned was weak, but the Luftwaffe wasn't encountered. The 209 fighters were more than enough for the 446 bombers in the aramda.
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Flak over Kiel was reported as moderate, but extremely accurate. It cost the aramda 4 ships. Two of them belonged to the 492nd. Several crewmen were wounded from flak, but we don't know how many or the extent of their injuries.
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When the Group got to the target they found the skies to be clear. The order was given to bomb visually instead of relying on the Pathfinder. All 23 planes were able to drop on target.
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The Both Crew R-44, piloted by Lt Harold Both, was shot down by flak. They were flying DAISY MAE, number 44-40135. This was their 4th mission. Only 4 chutes were counted as their plane fell from the sky, but all 10 of the men were able to bail out to become POWs.
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Ives Crew R-48 was also severely hit by flak. They were the Group's newest members flying on their second mission. They determined that their plane wouldn't make a return to England so they went to Sweden instead.
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The Group's bad luck seemed to be returning, as they accounted for half of the B-24s lost that day. Fortunately, nobody was killed, so perhaps they were lucky. The 392nd didn't lose any planes, but had a couple of men killed.
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Menweg Crew 908 became the third crew to complete their 30-mission tour. And just in time, too, if the rumors about the 492nd's fate were to prove true. Instead of getting transffered, they got a ticket home.
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| Mission Data |
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62
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Date:
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4 Aug 44
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Kiel, Germany
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Gas Plant
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Aircraft
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Bomb Load
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Tons:
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58
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Type:
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500 lb GPs
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Result:
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n/a
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Enemy Action
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Flak:
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Moderate
Accurate
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GAF:
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None
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Counter Action
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Kills:
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0
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492 Casualties
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KIA:
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WIA:
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POW:
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INT:
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