MISSION BRIEFING
"Good morning, men. At ease and take your seats . . . The Wing's weathermen predicts the weather will be just clear enough to go after a major target. Today, the Fifteenth will again commit over 600 heavies, along with over 250 escorts to hit . . . You can remove the curtain now, Sergeant Davis . . . Vienna! That is our target for today. The Liberators have been assigned industrial targets in Czechoslovakia as well as oil refineries around Vienna. The Fifth Wing has been assigned two refineries around Vienna, the Kagran and Florisdorf refineries. Our target is in the northern section of Vienna, it's Florisdorf district, with the Double-Eights assigned as the lead."
"It will be another long and tough mission today and you can bet the Germans will be up in force today. And Vienna is the third heaviest defended Nazi city in all of Europe, so expect flak going in and coming out today. Major Payne, continue with the briefing."
"Yes, Sir . . . Gentlemen, today's group formation will be as follows: the 316th will be in the lead with Colonel Lamb as our group leader today flying with Major Tanner. The 317th will be the high squadron under the command of Lieutenant Honda, while Major Mikula's 318th will form the low squadron. The 399th will supply 3 aircraft each behind the 316th and the 317th to form the rest of the group. Take-off is at 0600, climb to 4000 and form up over the base. Proceed to 23000 and rendezvous with the 301st and 463rd groups over San Marcos. The Double-Eights will be the lead group, with the 301st and the 463rd forming as the high and low groups respectively. You will then head north by northeast into the Adriatic Sea . . ."