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416th Bombardment Group (L) No Report February 16, 1945, Friday
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416th Bombardment Group (L) No Report February 16, 1945, Friday
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Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-22306 (Douglas A-26B-15-DT Invader)
9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 669th Bomb Sq Mission # 206; Box: I; Flight: 1; Position: 3; A/C Fuselage Code: 2A-X Reason: Enemy anti-aircraft Damage: Crash Landing, Battle damage Point Of Departure: A-69 Laon/Athies, France Location: B-80
Description: At about the same time, Lt J.F. Allens plane received a hit in his engine. The engine went dead. He continued with the formation on single engine but was forced to salvo his bombs before the target and started back alone. He flew north to clear the Rhine Valley and called for a heading home. A voice over the radio told him that he was in friendly territory. Just then, about 20 bursts of flak came up off his tail. He headed west until he found what looked to be a friendly airfield and started to circle it. Not until he heard what sounded like a German accent did he realize how close he was to more danger. Finally, a British fighter field contacted him and led him in. He landed safely. There, he was told that he had been flying through some of the "hottest" flak areas in that section. He also learned that the Germans had been trying, unsuccessfully, for some time to cut in on radio communications. (416th BG History 1945) See Mission # 206 for additional details |