B-17 special mission
 

I have had no luck determining the mission for a single B-17 on January 25, 1945. Four P-47's of the 512th Fighter Squadron, 406th Fighter Group escorted it from Verdun to Luxembourg and Nancy, then repeated that a second time before breaking away southwest of Luxembourg. Freeman's 8AF War Diary shows nothing involving a sole B-17 on this date. Thank you for any help on this.

Kent

Re: B-17 special mission
 

All those cities were liberated at that time. A WAG. Was this some sort of calibration flight, for example for Gee-H? Were new Gee-H ground stations being set up at the time? There was a station in Reims from late 1944.

https://timeandnavigation.si.edu/mul...11000000-scale

Re: B-17 special mission
 

The British were setting up GEE-H stations on the continent from Sept; there were "check-points" along certain routes which would need linking with bomb-sights.
Looks like a triangular course which makes sense.
This is the 512th escort on the 25th. but unfortunately no further details.
Regards
Nick


http://www.atticaerospace.com/Digita...ry/Slide32.JPG

Re: B-17 special mission
 

Roland & Nick,

Thanks very much for the leads. Since this was not a bombing mission, the various Eighth Air Force bomber summaries I have do not mention this solo flight. But, I will keep looking.

Kent

Re: B-17 special mission
 

Rolland. If this was a testing/experimental flight I think it's more likely to be the improved Gee-H (which could be jammed) ie. "Micro-H" which was online with 3rdBD B-17s from Dec. 1944; it was being developed by 482BG going into Jan. 1945. The ground personnel actually came from this Group, the transmitting stations being Verdun (Charny Y-28) and Namur; it may be significant that another was established at Nijmegen in January.
Maybe Kent could focus on the 482nd ? a most interesting Group.


Regards
Nick