8th Air Force 961

19 April 1945
Ground crew of the 25th Bomb Group spray foam onto the crashed Mosquito (serial number NS748) at Watton, 19 April 1945. Official caption printed on image: '(G-AD-[illegible])(19-4-45)(MOS.748CRASH)(REST.)' media-378760.jpg FRE 584 Ground crew of the 25th Bomb Group spray foam onto the crashed Mosquito (serial number NS748) at Watton, 19 April 1945. The pilot was Lt John Merrill Carter. The aircraft made a "ground loop" at Watton, UK on 19 April 1945.

Official caption printed on image: '(G-AD-[illegible])(19-4-45)(MOS.748CRASH)(REST.)' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 584 - Ground crew of the 25th Bomb Group spray foam onto the crashed Mosquito (serial number NS748) at Watton, 19 April 1945. The pilot was Lt John Merrill...

Mission Details

Description: ESCORT MISSION

Notes: 6 P-51s escort 7 F-5s on a photo recon mission.

AUSSIG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

ELSTERWERDA

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is the last combat mission for the 306th Bomb Group. They have flown 342 missions in 9,614 sorties and dropped 22,575 tons of bombs. They report 171 aircraft MIA. They were stationed in England at one base (Thurleigh) longer than any other Bomb Group in 8th AF. They were the first Bomb Group to complete 300 missions from the UK. They remain the oldest operational Bomb Group in the 8th AF.

FALKENBERG

Description: ESCORT MISSION

FALKENBERG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KARLSBAD

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

NORWAY

Description: CARPETBAGGER MISSION

Notes: 11 of 16 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to Norway

PIRNA

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Calvin T Morton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-835242
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

James Hugh Mulholland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35098072
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Carroll West Ofsthun

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17113623 at enlistment, then O-700316
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Robert W Smith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-773464
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Pilotage Navigator

Marion L Smith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner/Radio Operator

Aircraft

43-38372

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rainbow
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, airborne in spite of the flak hole ripped into its left wing. Printed caption on reverse: '56751 AC- BERLIN DAMAGE- Flak over Berlin, March 18 1945, during the more than 1300 heavy bomber attack on rail and industrial targets in the capital city of the Reich, was responsible for the torn wing tip on the US Eight AF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Intense anti-aircraft fire made things hot for the heavy bombers over the target. US Air Force Photo.'

43-38425

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

43-38501

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sweet Chariot
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.

43-38548

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

43-38588

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Eileen's Kindergarten
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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'.

8th Air Force 961: Gallery (2 items)