Major William C. Heller and Major Louis M. Schulstad piloted the Scouter aircraft. Major Robert M. Nye flew with the 358BS formation on another orientation combat flight. One aircraft returned early, #44-8647 (No Name), 360BS (Lt. App), when the #4 supercharger failed.

Thirty-nine aircraft were dispatched to attack the synthetic oil plant at Muehlen, Germany (visual). The secondary target was military objectives in Dresden (visual or PFF), with the last resort target a factory in Plauen. Suggested targets of opportunity were military objectives in Chemnitz and Jena, Germany.

The 358BS lead B-17G, #44-8590 (No Name), 358BS (Lt. Goering), had a take-off accident. After beginning the take-off roll, the aircraft swerved to the left of the runway, about one-quarter of the way down the field. Lt. Goering asked for flaps and applied full military power. The B-17 became airborne at 95 mph, wheels were raised, and flaps were bled up at 110 mph. The aircraft then began to mush and struck the ground about 300 yards west of the east/west runway. Visibility was 70 yards, the sky was obscured, and an instrument take-off was being made. The bombardier, 1Lt. Bill F. Conder, suffered a broken arm and three other crew members suffered minor injuries. At 0745 hours, ten minutes after the crash, the aircraft exploded and was completely destroyed. All crew and other personnel were clear of the aircraft when it exploded.

The deputy lead crew in #43-38999 Emma, 358BS, took over high Squadron lead after Lt. Goering's crash. Thirty-seven 303rd BG(H) aircraft bombed the secondary target, dropping 631 250-lb. H.E. M57 bombs and ten units of leaflets, from 24,700, 24,100 and 25,600 feet. Bombing was PFF through a solid undercast, and results were unobserved. Dresden was considered a "dead city" following this raid. Although the tremendous loss of life and property is still considered an unnecessary tragedy by many, at the time it was believed to be a military necessity.

Friendly fighter support by 141 P-51s was reported as good, but not as good as other recent missions. No enemy aircraft were seen. Meager and inaccurate flak (accurate for high Squadron) was encountered in the Limburg-Wiesbaden area and over the battle lines on the route back. High Squadron aircraft had one major and six minor instances of battle damage.

The Group found the weather upon return to Molesworth similar to take-off conditions—near-zero visibility. Landings were made under very difficult conditions. Lt. Lawrence E. Poole had engine problems on return in #43-38065, Princess Pat 2, 358BS. Two engines had been feathered and gas was near zero, causing Lt. Poole to order eight crewmen to bail out. Lt. Poole and T/Sgt. Rayford E. Pullen, engineer, attempted a normal landing at Lakenheath, Suffolk, an RAF airfield. After reaching the RAF airfield, they found that it was under construction. They collapsed the landing gear to avoid hitting some workmen, saving, according to RAF reports, an almost certain loss of life among the civilian workers. The landing was made without injury and all bailouts were successful.

More info on this mission at the 303BG website

39 aircraft assigned to this mission: Completed Mission - 19. Scrubbed - 18. Ground Spare, Unused - 2

18 a/c landed away because of weather

34 a/c plus 4 PFF a/c took-off by 0815 hours. Formations were effected and the briefed route to the target was followed. The secondary target at Cottbus was bombed using PFP methods with a visual assist. Bombs were away at 1201 hours from 23,000 feet. Strike photos show that the bombs hit 300 yards south of the assigned target on the choke point of the marshalling yards.

Meager inaccurate flak was encountered at the battle lines and the target areas.

All but one a/c returned to base by 1636 hours. One a/c landed away.

Captain Button, Command Pilot; Lt. C. Beatty, Lead Pilot; Lt. Hirsch, Navigator; Lt. Harr, Bombardier and Lt. Wiersema, Mickey Operator, were leading the formation at time of bombs away.

31 planes hit the oil plant through heavy clouds.