896
19 March 1945Added individual photo
Official Description
1,273 bombers and 675 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and industrial targets in Germany visually and with H2X radar; clouds force 2 of the 3 forces to hit secondaries; 100+ Luftwaffe fighters including 36 Me 262s in formation (largest number of jets seen as a unit) are encountered; the AAF claims 41-3-19 Luftwaffe aircraft (including 3 Me 262s); 6 bombers and 10 fighters are lost:
1. Cloud cover prevents 496 B-17s from hitting the primary targets; secondaries hit are the optical works at Jena (197) and the motor vehicle plant at Zwickau (177); targets of opportunity are Plauen (32), the marshalling yards at Fulda (44) and Saalfeld (10) and other (4); bombing is by H2X radar with some visual attacks; they claim 1-1-2 aircraft; 4 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 49 MIA. Escorting are 183 of 198 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost.
2. Cloud cover forces 404 of 436 B-17s to hit the industrial area at Plauen, the secondary target using H2X radar; targets of opportunity, bombed visually, are the Fulda marshalling yard (20) and Prissig (1); 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 9 MIA. The escort is 141 of 153 P-51s.
3. 341 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Neuburg (125) and Leipheim (84) and jet aircraft plant at Baumenheim (126) visually; 1 B-24 is lost; 11 airmen are MIA. 175 of 194 P-51s escort; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft without loss.
4. 95 of 98 P-51s fly a freelance sweep for the bombers; they claim 33-2-14 aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost.
5. 2 of 4 P-51s escort 15 F-5s and 2 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany.
Mission Details
Airfields and Industrial targets, Germany
Description: All Bomb Groups of the 8th Air Force are sent to Germany to attack airfields and industrial targets.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3,143.4
- People killed in action: 18
- People wounded in action: 8
- People missing in action: 69
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 6
- Aircraft damaged: 125
Böhlen (Primary) / Not Yet Known (Secondary) / Plauen (Tertiary) / Fulda (Opportunistic) / Prissig (Opportunistic)
Description: The Primary target for the mission was the Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant in Bohlen Germany. Before the mission crews were briefed that they should only bomb visually, however when they arrived over Bohlen, they found the target covered with cloud. The situation was the same at the Secondary target of the mission (location unknown). Crews ultimately bombed the Tertiary target of Plauen using H2X Pathfinder equipment to provide visual assistance. Other targets of opportunity were bombed visually.
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- People killed in action: 9
- People wounded in action: 3
- People missing in action: 9
- Aircraft sent: 436
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 4
Plauen vehicle industry
Description: The Tertiary target of Vomag Maschinenfabrik in Plauen was bombed using a the visual assistance of H2X pathfinder equipment
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: The 384th Bomb Group were the only unit in the 1st Air Division to suffer a loss during this mission. B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43‑39035) flown by Second Lieutenant Robert Griffin and his crew crashed near Reigate, England while returning to base due to pilot error. The nine men on board were all killed in the crash.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1,007.4
- People killed in action: 9
- Aircraft effective: 404
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
Fulda Marshalling Yard / Prissig
Description: 20 aircraft bomb the railway marshaling yards at Fulda visually as a Target of Opportunity with 48.8 tons of bombs. 1 aircraft bombs Prissig as a Target of Opportunity with 2.5 tons of bombs.
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes:
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 51.3
- Aircraft effective: 21
Neuburg (Primary) / Leipheim (Primary) / Baumenheim, (Primary)
Description: The 2nd Air Division were the only Bomb Division to carry out visual bombing of their Primary targets. 341 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Neuburg and Leipheim, and the jet aircraft plant at Baumenheim visually; 1 B-24 is lost; 11 airmen are MIA. 175 of 194 P-51s escort; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft without loss.
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- People missing in action: 11
- Aircraft sent: 341
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
Neuburg airfield
Description: 125 B-24s attack the airfield at Neuburg
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 44th Bomb Group Mission report: Jet Plane assembly factory at Neuberg, Germany was attacked today. Capt. Brownlowe, 67th, was credited with a Group lead, Wing and Division with the total of 33 of the 44th's aircraft. Our formation flew the briefed route until reaching the IP, where a thick haze was encountered, forcing the formation to drop 1,500 feet to get under it. All aircraft reached the objective and all bombs were released on the Primary with excellent results. Enemy opposition was nil, while our fighters furnished very good support. Five of the Group's aircraft landed on the continent . One of the 66th aircraft is MIA for unknown reasons.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 284.3
- Aircraft effective: 125
Leipheim airifeld
Description: 84 B-24s bomb the airfield at Leipheim
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 189.5
- Aircraft effective: 84
Baumenheim aviation industry
Description: 126 B-24s attack the Aviation Industry at Baumenheim
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 289.2
- Aircraft effective: 126
Not yet known (Primary) / Zwickau (Secondary) / Jena (Secondary) / Plauen (Opportunistic) / Fulda (Opportunistic) / Saalfeld (Opportunistic) / Not yet known (Opportunistic)
Description: Cloud cover prevents the 496 B-17s from the 3rd Air Division from hitting the primary targets. The 3rd Air Division are forced to use H2X radar and visual sightings to carry out attacks on the secondary targets and targets of opportunity. 197 B-17s hit the optical works at Jena, and 177 hit the motor vehicle plant at Zwickau. The targets of opportunity are: Plauen, the marshalling yards at Fulda, Saalfeld The 3rd Air Division claims 1-1-2 aircraft; 4 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 49 MIA. Escorting are 183 of 198 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost.
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1321.7
- People killed in action: 9
- People wounded in action: 5
- People missing in action: 49
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 496
- Aircraft effective: 464
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 121
Zwickau vehicle industry
Description: 177 B-17s effectively attack motor transport industry at Zwickau
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 493.8
- Aircraft effective: 177
Jena Optical Works
Description: 197 B-17s effectively attach the optical works at Jena.
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 563.1
- Aircraft effective: 197
Fighter Escort
Description: Fighters from every fighter Group except the 20th and 56th Fighter Groups are dispatched to Germany to provide escort for bombers attacking airfields and industrial targets.
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Mission Statistics
- People missing in action: 9
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 40
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 17
- Aircraft sent: 675
- Aircraft effective: 623
- Aircraft missing in action: 10
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39552583
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2064709
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 353rd Fighter Group 351st Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-526350
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36637720
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-Out Baby!
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Boss Lady
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Kathleen Lady of Victory
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mister Completely, Home James
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Aunt Callie's Baby aka She Fox aka Lucky Lady
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 296-297
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 296-297
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History,
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.