8th Air Force 963

21 April 1945
media-35823.jpeg UPL 35823 Memorial at the crash site of B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) Black Cat near Regensberg, Germany.

Image courtesy of Karen Seidler

Object Number - UPL 35823 - Memorial at the crash site of B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) Black Cat near Regensberg, Germany.

Mission Details

INGOLSTADT

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: This is the last combat mission (Ingolstadt) flown by the 447th BG. They have flown 257 missions in 7,605 sorties and dropped a total of 17,103 tons of bombs. They report 97 aircraft MIA. B-17, TN 337756 "MILK WAGON" sets the record for 3rd Air Division with 129 missions and no turn-backs. The aircraft leave the UK 29/30 Jun 45 with ground unit on the 1st and 3rd Aug 45. Inactivated 7 Nov 45. This is the last combat mission flown by the 487th BG. They have flown 185 missions in 6,021 sorties and dropped 14,041 tons of bombs. They led the 3rd Air Division in bombing accuracy from Jan 45 to the end of the war with strikes within 1,000 ft of the aiming point. The aircraft left the UK the first week of Jul 45. The ground unit sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on 25 Aug 45. The group was inactivated on 7 Nov 45.

LANDSBERG/AMLECH

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: This is the last combat mission flown by the 452nd BG. They have flown 250 missions in 7,279 sorties and dropped a total of 16,467 tons of bombs. They report 100 aircraft MIA. This Bomb Group had more Commanding Officers (9) than any other BG in 8th AF during the course of the war. The aircraft departed the UK in late Jun 45. The ground unit sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on 5 Aug 45. The group was inactivated on 28 Aug 45. This is the last combat mission flown by the 486th BG. They have flown 188 missions in 7,086 sorties and dropped 14,517 tons of bombes. They report 33 aircraft MIA. The 834 Bomb Squadron had the distinction of losing no planes or personnel on its first 78 missions. The aircraft left the UK the first week of Jul 45. The ground unit sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on 25 Aug 45. The group was inactivated on 7 Nov 45.

MUNICH

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is the last combat mission for the 94th BG. They have flown 324 missions in 8,884 sorties and dropped 18,924 tons of bombs. They report 153 aircraft MIA. They remained in the UK until 11 Dec 45 and were inactivated in the US on 21 Dec 45. This is the last combat mission for the 96th Bomb Group. They have flown 321 missions in 8,924 sorties and dropped 19,277 tons of bombes. They report 189 aircraft MIA, this is the second highest MIA loss total in 8th AF. They are the first double-strength bomb group in 8th AF. Their aircraft left the UK with some transferred to continental units in Nov 45. The ground unit sailed on the Lake Champlain on 12 Dec 45. The group was inactivated on 20 Dec 45.

SALZBURG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: Mission aborted due to cloud cover.

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2075620
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 729th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 2069916
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Mickey operator, B-17
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 487th Bomb Group 839th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator; Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 02-068357
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Midge
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-10706) nicknamed "Miss Bea Havin'" of the 388th Bomb Group flies over countryside. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Miss Bea Havin 2107062 M, 562 BS.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Black Cat
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Struggle Buggy
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Peg O My heart, Geraldine
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron 324th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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'.

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