Lt. Mark J. Woods, Jr.'s Diary

398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association

Lt. Mark J. Woods, Jr.'s Diary
Navigator, 600th Squadron

Woods Mission No. 29

**4 August 1944**
**Target** **Peenemunde, Germany**
Total combat time: 199:00 hours Date: August 4, 1944 Mission No. 29 Location of target: Peenemunde, Germany Type of target: Large hydrogen peroxide plant for jet propulsion planes Load: 2700 gals of gas and 5-1,000 lb. bombs Altitude: 24,000 feet Flight Time: 9:00 hours Escort: P-51s and P-47s Force of raid: 11 wings, we were 10th Position: #3 of low lead squadron of lead group Opposition: Flak, intense and accurate Battle damage: Three large holes in nose and one in the cockpit Results: Hit target on MPI, blew to blazes Remarks: We lost 2 planes, one a direct hit in bomb bay. Blew plane into nothing. Only large pieces left was a body and part of a wing. The other plane went into a dive, pulled out and flew in circles. That was the last we saw of him. Flak shell burst directly below our plane. A piece came through the side of the nose. Behind me it knocked hydraulic fluid all over. I was knocked over backwards. I picked myself up. Pieces of flak were lying beside me. I felt myself all over to see if I was OK to satisfy Owen.

Notes:

Lt. Mark J. Woods, Jr. was a Navigator on Stanley R. Reed's 600th Squadron crew.
The above transcription was provided by Carolyn Woods and Joe K. Mansell.
This transcription is a reproduction of the original. Spelling and punctuation changes have been made to improve readability. In some circumstances, material may not have been transcribed or was rewritten.
Clarification of acronyms or special words or guesses of certain words are shown in brackets [ ].

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