 As regards JG 11 specifically , at 8 : 08 am the aircraft took off and assembled over Aschaffenburg with two Junkers Ju 188 ' Pathfinders ' to navigate . After assembling , Specht ordered all aircraft to fly at 400 feet ( 120 m ) to the target area , climbing to 1 @,@ 500 feet ( 460 m ) prior to commencing the attack . Some P @-@ 47 Thunderbolts of the 390th Fighter Squadron , 366th FG , were already airborne and Mustangs of the 487th Fighter Squadron , 352nd FG , were on the runway . The formation was disrupted by flak , and several German aircraft were shot down . 
