The groups target on this date was the Damiler-Benz engine works at Genshagen just south of Berlin. This plant was making jet engines for the ME-262. The 457th put up 34 planes. The path of the formation was to fly North of Berlin, circle the city clockwise and strike Genshagen from the north. The flak was heavy but the group was in flak for only a few minutes. During this time one plane s/n 42-97131 sustained a direct hit that knocked out #2 engine and left the wing in flames. The plane dove out of the formation and shortly after blew up. Seventy eight of the bombers on this mission flew on to Russia, Accompanied by P-51's and spent the night there.

Plane 42-97131, named "Home James," and piloted by Lt Vincent L. Frost, was hit by flak over the target. The #2 engine was hit and fuel from broken gas lines ignited and soon the whole wing was ablaze. The pilot dove out of formation trying to blow out the flames but to no avail. The order was given to bail out. One of the crew, exiting from the nose escape hatch, had his parachute hang up on the ball turret and he died when the plane exploded.