September 1944
Mission #94
1 September 1944
Target: Ferrara Railroad Bridge, Italy
On the first mission of the new month the Group failed again to seriously damage or destroy the railroad bridge North of Ferrara, Italy. Seven of the planes became separated from the formation and bombed a bridge at Boari Pisani, Italy.
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Mission #95
2 September 1944
Target: Mitrovica Railroad Bridge, Yugoslavia
On Mission No. 95, veterans in the lead plane, Lt. Colonel Appelgate, Captain Specht, Captain Murphy, Lt. Prien, and Major Pruitt, came through with the mission that was scored at 57.3 percent against a railroad bridge at Mitrovica, Yugoslavia. The photographs of the mission show a closely concentrated pattern of bombs on the west approach to the bridge with six direct hits on the tracks.
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Mission #96
3 September 1944
Target: Smederovo Ferry Slip, Yugoslavia
Against the Smederovo Ferry Slip in Yugoslavia on 3 September, Major Goree, Lt. Garrett, Lt. Herold, Captain DeWitt, and Lt. Littel led a formation which made the highest bombing score ever achieved by this Group. Under ideal conditions the bombs were dropped on and around the ferry slip in such a concentration that 92.2 percent were plotted within 1,000 feet of the briefed aiming point.
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Commendation
From : Twining
To : CO 49th Wing
A study of reconnaissance photos taken after the attacks by the Four Nine Wing on 3 September on the Smederovo Ferry Docks reveals that both road and rail terminals are almost completely destroyed. The excellence of the bomb patterns of these two pinpoint targets by the 461st Group is highly commendable.
Mission #97
5 September 1944
Target: Sava East Railroad Bridge, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
The assigned target for this mission was the Sava East Railroad Bridge, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Because of a ten-tenths cloud coverage at both the primary and the one assigned alternate target, the planes were forced to return to base.
Mission #98
6 September 1944
Target: Sava East Railroad Bridge, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
On Mission No. 98 the Group returned to the Sava East Railroad Bridge, Belgrade, flying in the last position in the Wing formation. The target area was completely obscured by smoke from the bombs of the other Groups in the Wing when the 461st arrived at the target. The bombs began falling short of the target, but most of them walked into the smoke with unobserved results.
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10 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
The first supply mission to France, which was Mission No. 99, was flown on September 10th. Colonel Glantzberg flew the first of thirty-six planes to take off individually on this mission. As a result of this mission one plane was lost to the group. The plane, which was piloted by 1st Lt. Robert K. Baker, developed a fire on the taxi strip at Lyon after the C-10 generator had been started. The flames spread rapidly through the plane compelling the crew to abandon it. Lt. Baker made his exit through the top hatch from where he jumped to the concrete taxi strip. The bones in both of his heels were broken in this accident.
The following supplies and materiel were delivered on this mission: 432 five hundred pound general purpose bombs; 57,600 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition; 648 empty fifty-five gallon drums; 25,000 gallons of 100 octane gasoline.
Mission #100
12 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
On 12 September eighteen planes delivered 26,670 gallons of 100 octane gasoline; 900 gallons of 120 grade oil; 324 empty fifty-five gallon drums; and 28,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition.
Mission #101
13 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
On 13 September nineteen planes delivered 26,676 gallons of 100 octane gasoline; 1350 gallons of 120 grade oil; 297 empty fifty-five gallon drums; and 54,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition.
Mission #102
15 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
On 15 September eighteen planes delivered 24,330 gallons of 100 octane gasoline; 1300 gallons of 120 grade oil; 298 empty fifty-five gallon drums; 30 five hundred pound general purpose bombs; and 54,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition.
Mission #103
16 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
On 16 September eighteen planes delivered 24,330 gallons of 100 octane gasoline; 1650 gallons of 120 grade oil; 324 empty fifty-five gallon drums; and 18,800 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition.
Mission #104
17 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
On September 17th the load of eighteen planes was as follows: 21,366 gallons of 100 octane gasoline; 1450 gallons of 120 grade oil; 288 empty fifty-five gallon drums; 30 five hundred pound general purpose bombs; and 16,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition. Due to adverse weather conditions at Lyon all of the planes were forced to land with their loads at friendly fields and did not reach Lyon until the following day.
Mission #105
22 September 1944
Target: Lyon/Bron Airdrome, France
On 22 September the Group completed its ferrying missions to France. 22,848 gallons of 100 octane gasoline; 1550 gallons of 120 grade oil; 246 empty fifty-five gallon drums; 30 five hundred pound general purpose bombs; and 14,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition were delivered.
Mission #106
24 September 1944
Target: Athens/Eleusis Airdrome, Greece
By the 24th of the month the Group was back again flying combat missions. Mission No. 106 was an attack on the Eleusis Airdrome at Athens, Greece, with 100 pound general purpose bombs. The bomb pattern started at the west edge of the dispersal area and continued south along the east side of the airdrome. Six enemy planes were destroyed on the ground.
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25 September 1944
Target: Submarines in the Athens Area, Greece
Lt. Colonel Lawhon led the last combat mission of the month which was flown 25 September in attacking submarines in the Athens area. The score of the mission was 24 percent. The only crew lost to combat during the month was lost on this mission. This plane, piloted by 2nd Lt. Ralph E. Newton, left the formation before reaching the target, but failed to return to base.
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25 September 1944
A practice mission was flown on this date. The following is the Poop Sheet for that practice mission.
27 September 1944
A practice mission was flown on this date. The following is the Poop Sheet for that practice mission
