9th mission: Kiel

Daddy didn't know it at the time, but he was more than halfway through with his bombing missions. The air war over Europe would end in less than two weeks:

German submarine construction had just about been forgotten. But lately it became obvious that the German fleet was a menace once more. Newer technology made U-boats larger, faster and radar-proof. Moreover, they were able to fire on Allied convoys without visual sightings. Revolutionary snorkel equipment kept them under water longer and they were now raising hell in the Channel once again. Today's planners took advantage of Double Summertime. The strike was scheduled for 1715 but, even so, the bombers could return just before dusk. Thirty-five of the 38 dispatched were effective. Although the inbound journey was impeded by 8/10s undercast and thick contrails, the skies cleared over the target area. Smokepots were of little help because strike photos showed that an airfield was hit 3 miles north of the MPI and that a trail of well-placed bombs led through the eastern part of the city into the torpedo boat section and the harbor. The harbor was crowded with shipping. But flak was accurate and tracking and a new German technique, firing from floating flak barges--in this case, 12 of them--took a toll. Each barge had been mounted with two .88mm guns. Lt Charles McFarland's 339th Ractup, 43-38871, was hit and tried for Sweden. The plane, the last official 96th MIA, eventually landed safely at Bultofa. The crew were soon repatriated and even the plane was returned to the USAAF. Flak caused major damage to four other planes and minor damage to nine. -- Snetterton Falcons

Target: U-boat sub pens, 100 guns at this target. Inaccurate flak, bombed by instruments. Jets attacked some of the formations. Load: 6 1,000 pound bombs. -- Harvey K Wingard, 350th BS, 100th BG

Target, Unusual as it is the "Admiral Sheer" heavy cruiser at the dock area at Kiel, Germany. Bomb load was six 1,000 Ib, bombs dropped from 25000 ft, Flak was moderate. We flew aircraft no. 931. -- Lyman R Huffman, Jr, 832 BS, 486th BG

The motor minesweeper YMS-71 is sunk by a mine off Borneo. The destroyer USS Sproston (DD-577) is damaged by a dive bomber; the escort carrier USS Wake Island (CVE-65) and high-speed minesweeper USS Hambleton (DMS-20) by suicide plane; and LST 554 by storm, all in the Okinawa area. The German submarines U-1221, U-2542 and U-3505 are sunk by Army aircraft at Kiel, Germany. -- America at War