Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Would anybody know where target code GU-4048 stood for, was it for Fliegerhorst Achmer or Handorf?
--Cees

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

For what is worth, there is a pdf file here:
http://24december1944.com/wp-content/uploads/FO587.pdf


On the last page (page 7) under Information for Scouting Force there "appears" (if I am reading it correctly) to be a list of target codes with co-ordinates.

GU-4048 appears to be Ettinghausen (actual co-ordinates) 50°28'42"N 008°38'26"E

The next code, GU-3963 appears to be the airfield at Kirch-Gons.

You can possibly check some of these in the site: https://www.forgottenairfields.com/index.php

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Could it be that the codes were not fixed but given to any target of a specific mission? The coordinates of GU-4048 from the document don't even come close to the coordinates of Achmer or Handorf of 21 feb 1944. - by the way nice page 24december1944.com!

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Hi Cees,

The target coding system was fixed, but had some alterations during the war. Each code was unique for a specific target, though.
GU-4048 indicated airfield Schleissheim.

Regards,
Hans

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

(One correction to my original post, the co-ordinates 50°28'42"N 008°38'26"E are for the field at Kirch-Gons not Ettinghausen.)

Let us look at the Air Force Chronology for the attacks on 24 December, 1944, the link is here:
http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii...ml/Dec.44.html

In particular the set of targets listed in item 2 of mission 760:
2. 542 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Merzhausen air depot (198) and
airfields at Giessen (74), Kirchgons (54), Nidda (53) and Ettinghausen (43);
secondary targets hit are Koblenz (42), Darmstadt (7), Kaiserslautern (5) and
Babenhausen (4).

From the list on page 7 of this link: http://24december1944.com/wp-content/uploads/FO587.pdf
We get

GU 4048 – 5034-0853 (50 34N, 8 53E is near Ettinghausen)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50...67!4d8.8833333

GU 3963 – 5028-0838 (50 28N, 8 38E is near Kirch-Gons)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50...67!4d8.6333333

GU 4393 – 5026-0859 (50 26N, 8 59E is near Nidda)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50...33!4d8.9833333

GU 4329 – 5020-0829 (50 20N, 8 29E is near Merzhausen)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50...33!4d8.4833333

GU 4098 – 5036-0843 (50 36N, 8 43E is near Giessen)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50....6!4d8.7166667

GU 2973 – 5053-0802 (50 53N, 8 02E is near/in Siegen which is not a target listed in the chronology)

GH 5548 – 5019-0736 (50 19N, 7 36E is just south of Koblenz)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50....3166667!4d7.6

Except for Siegen (which may have been a target or possible secondary that was not hit that day) the rest of the GU and GH target codes and locations seem to match up quite well with targets that were actually hit. In particular, it seems to suggest to me that GU-4048, (at least on that day and for that attack), was Ettinghausen.


Just to add to the confusion, there is a very long report here:
http://401bg.org/Archive/Document/Mi...Report/118.pdf
which contains a lot of information about an attack on the I.G. Farben synthetic oil refinery at Merseburg on July 29, 1944.

On page 34 the target code for the factory is given as GU-4048.

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Hi Hans,

Just a long shot: what about GU 4084 (in stead of 4048), could that me Achmer or Handorf?

--Cees

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Further to this: the photo is from the field order 2nd BD 21 feb 1944. Clearly is states GU 4048, but this could not be the target of the day at all - see the coordinates. Type error? Should it be GU 4084 - either Achmer or Handorf...??

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Cees,

Interesting page. Do you have the pages immediately before and after that page? I could be wrong, but here is my understanding of it. At the "control" point, they split into two attacking formations, going to different targets, maybe Achmer for one and Handorf for the other. (Achmer just west of Bramsche and Handorf NE of Munster (am I correct on that?)).

I think the previous page would contain a statement: On Target GU-XXX and then lead into the timings that follow from the top of the page you posted. I think that possibly that target is Achmer based on the timings and locations we can see. (But both targets are not that far apart so it really could be either.) They give the IP location which is "before" the target and the rally point (rendezvous) location after the target. The flight would have gone from the IP to the target. Then there would have been a sharp turn after passing over the target to get to the RP.

They then start describing another target GU-4048 (or GU-4084?) for the second attack formation, with its associated locations and timings. We might see the IP and RP points for that target on the next page and they might give us some better clues as to the target.

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

Hi, Actually the documents are not complete. I just ordered a new set from NARA. I'll get back to you asap. --Cees

Re: Target codes 8th Air Force
 

It takes weeks before NARA can send me the documents. I've ordered them, but unfortunately have to wait.

Meanwhile another one: GH 590. Should be a target near Osnabrück...but what was it?