As you know, I have been researching the last mission of our Fathers to Germany. These are the accounts of that day that I learned and would like to share. On the morning of Feb 24, 1944 at 0530 the 445th BG, 8th Air Force went into a briefing to learn their target mission for that day was the Messerschmitt factories in Gotha, Germany. This was mission no. 28 for the 445th; this had to happen deep in enemy territory. It was the fifth mission of that week known as "Big Week". The 703rd (Jimmy Stewart's squadron) was designated as the lead squadron (Jimmy did not fly this day as he stayed behind to coordinate operations). As I learned, the men of the 445th had a bad feeling about this particular mission, quite apprehensive, however, as experienced and trained aviators, they continued to prepare the planes there and pre-flight checks as usual. The 8th Air Force, 701st, 702nd, 703rd, 704th, BS, 445th BG put 30 B-24H Liberators into the air that day. They were flying out of Tibenham England, home of the 445th BG. That day, as the sun rose, the bombers with the distinct guttural roar of their engines breaking through the thick morning mist taxied across the tarmac. These gray and intimidating warbirds sat lined up from nose to tail, as if silently suspended in time awaiting the green atmosphere that signaled takeoff. These bomber crews sat in silence knowing exactly what they were in for and the difficulty of this mission. Within 15 minutes the 30 B-24s were surrounding the airfield while forming their group's bombing formation. The 8th Air Force put many planes into the air that day. They were to fly to the coast and rendezvous with the 15th Air Force and the rest of the fighter wing, where they were to circle once again forming a much larger formation made up of both B-24s and the older but sleeker B-17s. (This was a friendly little battle between the air crews; the B-24 was faster, carried a larger payload and flew more missions in WWII, but not as popular with the press because it was considered ugly.) It was a very clear and cold day. the frozen waters of the North Sea.