Any vets or persons who know where the 96th, or 447th or 452nd BG's were - position wise in the 3rd BD strikes against Brux, et al in Czechoslovakia  - when the LW fighters hit in Koblenz area?
 
I'm looking for BG/CW position in the 3rd Div momber stream.
 
Thanks in advance
 
Bill

Bill - The 4th Combat Wing Mission was Zwickau.
I know the 447th and 385th went there for sure.
The 13th and 45th CWs Bombed Brux.
388th BG was Lead and Low Group of 45th C Wing
390th BG - 24 A/C bombed Brux , 11 others could not see target
because of Black Smoke . Bombed Secondary - Chemnitz.
100th BG - Hit target.
130 Fighters hit the formation 1130 - 1230 Hours
Mike

Mike the target assignments for the wings help understand where they headed from Central Germany.. and you info adds some pieces but the bomber stream order in the 1130-1200 timeframe is exactly what I'm looking for.
 
I'm trying to understand the hand off assignments between the Penetration Escort and the Target Escort.  Both the 355th and 4th had target escort and were to pick up the bombers in the 1210-1230 timeframe.
 
The 56th might have been one of the groups with Penetration but I'm not sure.
 
As near as I can tell the 355th was supposed to take the R/V just east of Bonn at 1215 when their "charges" called in to say they were running late at about 1145. 
 
The 355th Mission Frag order stated 'Trailing Wings' of 3rd Division First Task Force attacking Zwickau"
 
The 355th dropped back toward Bonn and picked up the leading wings of the 2nd Task Force Wing and escorted them to Furstenau. At Furstenau, the 355th moved back up to cover the trail wing of the 3rd Task Force.
 
So, there are now two questions. The first is which CW was the force attacking Zwickau and the second question is where were they in the bomber stream... If the 4th CW was assigned to Zwickau, and the 355th Frag Order stated 'Trailing wing attacking Zwickau' how did the 4th get in the lead?
 
I have a notion that possibly the trailing wings were late and perhaps the 4th CW moved out front.. leaving a gap and isolating the 4th from the rest of the 3rd AD?  what do you think?
 
Bill 

Bill - The 4th CW went to Zwickau. The 3d Bomb Division Lead was 45th A CW.
The Force Feinted an attack on Frankfurt. As it neared Frankfurt it split , the 45th CW
and 13th CW turned toward Brux , the 4th CW toward Zwickau.
Reports say 1 Group of P - 47s was with them when attacked by 130 LW Fighters.
The P - 47s were overwhelmed and Many Bombers Hit. 2 escort groups then arrived
and drove off several Attacks , the last near Frankfurt.
The 388th , heading to Zwickau was attacked  by Fighters at 1225.
447th reports picked up P - 38 Escort returning from Zwickau.
This is all I can Find.
PS - 4th FG reports at 1214 heard Bombers being attacked Frankfurt Area and
joined them 1220.  
Mike 

       Bill, don't know if this helps, but..
The 94th "A" Group sent 21 A/C to Brux flying high Group in the 45th "C" CBW.
     Enemy coast was crossed at 51/07N-02/40E at 1059 and 1/2 hours flying at 18,600 feet.
     I.P. reached at 1351 hours, a left turn was made onto the bomb run in group formation. Bombs away at 1400 hours on magnetic heading of 020 degrees at 24,000 feet. A left turn was made off the target although immediatly after target a slight right turn was made to avoid flak.
     Friendly fighter support was good on route in and during enemy attacks from 50/24N-06/00E to 50/21N-11/00E.  We missed the friendly fighters on the way out probably because our formation was about 30 minutes late.
     Heavy enemy attacks were again encountered on route out from 50/25N-10/00E for approx. 1/2 hour. Attacks were mostly tail attacks and were persistant.
     That should give you an idea of where the 45th "C" CBW was and when. The 94th only sent a composite group of 6 A/C to Zwickau. 
     http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_147747/tm.htm
More info on the 94th Brux mission. Regards, Marc
    

       Bill,the 94th BG, 410th Sq. said this about the Brux mission:
      "Enemy air opposition was terrific and a total of four and equally savage attacks were made on the formation.  In all the attacks the E/A swept in from head on and high, attacking in waves of 20-30 E/A at one time in lines of 10 abreast, stacked up in lines abreast. Attacks were pressed closely and viciousely with E/A reportedly barrel-rolling through the formations and reforming quickly to renew attacks with undiminished vigor. Flak at target was moderate, accurate to inaccurate, with heavy continuous following fire from 20-30 guns. A few rockets were observed. Fighter support was very good. 3 EM were wounded."
      The 332nd Sq. says:
    "All in all vital targets, and the Germans defended them as such-both formations were hard hit with swarms of ME-109's coming in for mass attacks and after target ME-210's and 410's lobbed rockets at the tail of the formation. Terrific air battles ensued. Claims against E/A ran into the double figures for the first time in several months, but such figures also cost."  Regards, Marc