Coordinated Attack on Worms, Germany

On the morning of March 18, 1945, the U.S. 9^th Air Force conducted a coordinated attack on the German city of Worms. Two specific areas in Worms were targeted in support of the Allied ground effort to the east. These two areas were the communications center and railroad marshalling yards.

The attack on Worms included 224 twin-engine aircraft made up of Martin B-26 Marauders and Douglas A-26 Invaders. Six different Bomb Groups participated: 387th BG, 416th BG, 394th BG, 397th BG, 391st BG and the 344th BG.

Six waves of aircraft attacked Worms that morning. The first two waves were sent against the Worms Communications Center. The remaining four waves were sent against the railroad marshalling yards.

The makeup of each wave is detailed below

Wave 1

Initial Attack Time:        0958 hours

Group:              387^th BG

Aircraft:                        38 B-26 Marauders dispatched including 1 PFF and 3 window A/C

# A/C dropping:           32

# A/C lost:                    1

Target:                          Communications Center

Ordnance dropped:      868 x 100 GP and 4 x 500 GP

Home Bases:                387^th BG at Clastres, France (A-71)

                                    1st PPF Squadron at Perrone, France (A-72)

Wave 2

Initial Attack Time:        1014 hours

Group:              416^th BG

Aircraft:                        41 A-26 Invaders dispatched including 3 window A/C

                                    1 B-26 Marauder PFF aircraft from 387th BG

# A/C dropping:           34

# A/C lost:                    4

Target:                          Communications Center

Ordnance dropped:      660 x 150 GP and 4 x 500 GP

Home Bases:                416^th BG at Laon-Athies, France (A-69)

1st PPF Squadron at Perrone, France (A-72)

Wave 3

Initial Attack Time:        1031 hours

Group:              394^th BG

Aircraft:                        39 B-26 Marauders dispatched including 1 PFF and 3 window A/C

# A/C dropping:           35

# A/C lost:                    0

Target:                          Marshalling Yard

Ordnance dropped:      140 x 1000 GP

Home Bases:                394^th BG at Orleans/Bricy, France (A-50)

                                    1st PPF Squadron at Perrone, France (A-72)

Wave 4

Initial Attack Time:        1045 hours

Group:              397^th BG

Aircraft:                        34 B-26 Marauders dispatched including 2 PFF and 3 window A/C

# A/C dropping:           27

# A/C lost:                    1

Target:                          Marshalling Yard

Ordnance dropped:      104 x 1000 GP and 4 x 500 GP

Home Bases:                397^th BG at Perrone, France (A-72)

                                    1st PPF Squadron at Perrone, France (A-72)

Wave 5

Initial Attack Time:        1100 hours

Group:              391^st BG

Aircraft:                        35 B-26 Marauders dispatched including 2 PFF and 3 window A/C

# A/C dropping:           31

# A/C lost:                    0

Target:                          Marshalling Yard

Ordnance dropped:      116 x 1000 GP, 12 x 1000 GP on window primary and 8 x 500 GP

Home Bases:                391^st BG at Roye/Amy, France (A-73)

                                    1st PPF Squadron at Perrone, France (A-72)

Wave 6

Initial Attack Time:        1115 hours

Group:              344^th BG

Aircraft:                        36 B-26 Marauders dispatched including 2 PFF and 3 window A/C

# A/C dropping:           32

# A/C lost:                    0

Target:                          Marshalling Yard

Ordnance dropped:      87 x 1000 GP, 32 x 1000 Comp. B and 8 x 500 GP

Home Bases:                Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France (A-59)

                                    1st PPF Squadron at Perrone, France (A-72)

Total ordnance dropped:

491 x 1000 GP

28 x 500 GP

660 x 150 GP

868 x 100 GP

Total Tonnage = 345 Tons

Information per: BAFB-16