VIII Bomber Command 106
2 October 1943Description
This mission is composed of three elements, two or which are directed at the industrial areas of Emden, Germany and the other at the German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland. The first element is a formation of 163 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division which consist of: 91BG (16); 92BG (19); 303BG (19); 305BG (17); 306BG (18); 351BG (19); 379BG (17); 381BG (19); 38BG (17); and (2) PFF equipped B-17s from 482BG. 159 aircraft are effective on the target. 1 B-17 from 303BG Failed to Return (FTR) 11KIA; 2 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA); 23 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 2-0-4 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element is a formation of 186 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division that consists of: 94BG (23); 95BG (22); 96BG (42); 100BG (26); 385BG (25); 388BG (21); and 390BG (27). The 96BG is now operating as double strength. 180 aircraft are effective on the targets. 1 B-17 from 388BG Failed to Return (FTR) 10KIA; 11 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 13-6-8 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The third element consists of 21 B-24s from 392BG dispatched to bomb the German airfield at Woensdrecht, Holland. The target is completely obscured by clouds and none of the formation is able to bomb. There are no losses or claims.
Mission Details
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Led by two Pathfinder (PFF) B-17 from 483rd Bomb Group/813BS. 96th Bomb Group despatches the greatest number (42) for a single Bomb Group to date. First time more than 1,000,000lbs of bombs are drooped on a single target, in fact, the total is 1,906,500lbs
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 506.15
- People killed in action: 11
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 13
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 8
- Aircraft sent: 186
- Aircraft effective: 180
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 11
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Led by two Pathfinder (PFF) B-17 from 483rd Bomb Group/813BS.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 447.10
- People killed in action: 10
- People wounded in action: 2
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 4
- Aircraft sent: 165
- Aircraft effective: 161
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 23
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Obscured by clouds, mission abandoned.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
- Aircraft sent: 21
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: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-52478
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-681319
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16060366 / O-665661
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron 550th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14065320 and O-802528
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Meat Hound
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Maryland, My Maryland : Billie
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Gal
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 366th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2014. Added Bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to 1stBD statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2014. Added Bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to 3rdBD statistics 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'.