The synthetic oil refinery at Bohlen, Germany was the target for the 457th on this date and the Group was led by Col Rogner who was Air Commander. One run on the target was made but because of smoke and haze the target could not be identified and a second run was attempted. On the second run, another group almost "shuffled the deck" with the 457th and the groups bombs were dropped off the target. One Squadron dropped it's bombs on the town of Gotha. Flak was intense and accurate and two planes, s/n 42-107026 and s/n 42-31505, were shot out of the formation but managed to land in France. The lead plane, s/n 43-38583, in high element of the high box was also hit and managed to land at a P-47 airbase in Belgium.

Plane s/n 42-107026, 751st Squadron, named "Hamtrammak Mama," and piloted by Lt John W. White was hit by flak over the target at Bohlen, Germany. The hit appeared to be in the bomb bay and the plane quickly left the formation. Three engines were knocked out and #3 was on fire. They dove to 9000 ft trying to extinguish the fire. Sgt Seely and Wilcox were both hit by shrapnel. With the ship on autopilot the order was give to bail out. All the crew became POW's and the injured were sent to a German hospital in Brussels. The plane crashed near Erfurt, Germany.