Monday
In England, the 8th Air Forces launched Mission 935, an attack on an ammunition plant, underground oil storage tanks and ten jet airfields. The mission put 1,252 bombers and 846 fighters in the air. Among the bombers were 88 B-24s sent to attack Leipheim Airfield. This included 31 B-24s from the 576th, 577th, 578th and 579th Bombardment Squadrons of the 392nd Bombardment Group (H).1
Kenneth E. Cline flew 577th Bombardment Squadron B-24 #169 to complete this, his 10th mission. The crews of the 392nd Bombardment Group were briefed at 0700 and only finally began taking off at 1245. All aircraft recovered at Wendling by about 2000. No flak and no enemy fighters were encountered.2
Leipheim Airfield was attacked by the 335th, 336th and 337th Fighter Squadrons of the 4th Fighter Group on 18 November 1944. The fighter squadrons claimed to have destroyed 40 Me 262s as well as service facilities during this attack. By January 18, 1945, the airfield was reported again serviceable for Me 262s, and by April 6, the runway had been extended to 5,600 feet. On April 9th, 88 B-24s bombed the airfield and its runway.3
Notes & Commentary
1 “Mission 935, 9 April 194,” Eighth Air Force Operations History (http://www.8thafhs.org/combat1945.htm : accessed 04 April 2015)
2 “Mission #276, Target: Leipheim.” http://www.B24.net (http://www.b24.net/missions/MM040945.htm : accessed 05 April 1945).
3 “Leipheim”, Luftwaffedata Wiki. (http://www.wiki.luftwaffedata.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Leipheim : accessed 05 April 2015)
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