VIII Bomber Command 59
19 May 1943(Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)
Ds 6/30/2018
Description
The German naval bases at Kiel and Flensburg, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. A force of 123 B-17s is despatched from: 91BG (19); 92BG (10); 303BG (27); 305BG (22); 306BG (24) and 351BG (21) to bomb the naval facilities at Kiel, Germany. Dense flak and fierce fighter opposition is encountered. This has the two-fold strategic objective of drawing up the Luftwaffe for destruction of their fighters and attaking the port facilities supporting the German U-Boat offensive. 101 of 103 of the B-17s despatched are effective on the primary at Kiel. One B-17 from 351st BG drops on the secondary target for this formation, the port facilities at Flensburg, Germany and another drops on a target of last resort the Kreigsmarinewerft dock yards. 6 B-17s are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 48-7-21 on the attacking fighters.
A second formation of 64 B-17s are depatched from: 94BG (26); 95BG (15) and 96BG (23) to bomb the naval yards at Flensburg, Germany. Anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition is also stiff aginst this formation but NO B-17s are lost and 9 are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 12-4-14 on the enemy fighters.
The 379th Bomb Group despatches 24 B-17s on a diversion for the bombers attacking at Kiel and Felnsburg. This is their first operation. They will fly their first bombing operation on 29-May-43. This diversion is escorted by 117 P-47s despatched from 4FG, 56FG and 78FG. Therer are no losses or claims in the bomber formation or among the escorting fighters.
Mission Details
Description: NAVAL YARD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 134.00
- People killed in action: 2
- People wounded in action: 4
- Aircraft sent: 64
- Aircraft effective: 55
- Aircraft damaged: 9
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: A British civilian news correspondent was killed on a 91st Bomb Group aircraft that was Missing in Action (MIA). One B-17 from 351st Bomb Group drops on Flensberg and another from 315th Bomb Group drops on Kriegmarinewerft docks. Each drop 10 X 500GP bombs (included in Kiel totals). No fighter escort on this mission.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 236.95
- People killed in action: 36
- People wounded in action: 7
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 26
- Aircraft sent: 123
- Aircraft effective: 103
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
- Aircraft damaged: 28
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 24 B-17s despatched from 379BG fly a diversion for the attacks on Kiel and Flensburg, German as their first operation.
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 24
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12036382
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-383665
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: C/O 331st Bomb Squadron
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17047268
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-791515
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11030892
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Tondelayo
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron 337th Bomb Squadron 339th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Silver Queen
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Jimmie, Memphis Blues
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lady liberty; Patsy Ann I
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 4-Jan-2015. Added description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jan-2015. Added Diversion event and description per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.