Recklinghausen — Railroad Marshalling Yard

Mission Narrative

On March 23, 1945 — the day Operation Plunder launched the Allied crossing of the Rhine — the 351st struck the railroad marshalling yards at Recklinghausen, on the northern edge of the Ruhr. The 351st dispatched 38 aircraft including one H2X ship, three combination H2X-GH aircraft, and two flying spares. Perfect CAVU conditions — clear skies with unlimited visibility — prevailed for the entire mission.

The lead and low squadrons struck the Recklinghausen yards successfully, while the high squadron diverted to the marshalling yards at nearby Westerholt as a target of opportunity. No aircraft were lost and no enemy fighters were encountered.

This was the 351st Bomb Group's 300th mission — a milestone that matched the group's remarkable 200th mission on September 8, which had been Carl's very first combat mission. In the six and a half months between Mission 200 and Mission 300, Carl had personally flown 30 of the group's 100 missions. That night, Allied forces began crossing the Rhine along a wide front.

Strategic Context

Operation Plunder, the Allied crossing of the Rhine, began on the night of March 23-24, 1945. It was accompanied by Operation Varsity — the largest single-day airborne operation in history. The 8th Air Force's attacks on Ruhr transportation targets on March 23 were part of the supporting air operations, designed to isolate the Rhine crossing zones and prevent German counterattack. The Rhine crossing marked the beginning of the final Allied drive into the German heartland.