4 October 1943
42-30043 SO-V, RUTHLESS, Ditched in the North Sea on return from a mission (#108) to Frankfurt, 4 October 1943. Photo courtesy of Eugene Spearman.
Statement on page 2 of MACR 5149 about the 4 October mission.
Not yet known
This mission is composed of five elements. The first element is a combined force of 104 B-17s from: 306BG (16); 92BG (17); 395BG (17); 303BG (19); 379BG (18) and 384BG (17) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Frankfurt, Germany. 77 aircraft are effective on Frankfurt; 15 others bomb the industrial areas of Wiesbaden, Germany. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) from Frankfurt. 5KIA 35POW. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) from Wiesbaden 10RTD (rescued by ASR). All tolled 45 aircraft are damaged. 2 airmen are KIA in returning aircraft and 8 are Wounded in Action (WIA) The bomber gunners from this element claim 19-3-15 of attacking German aircraft.
The second element is a combined force of 51 B-17s from: 381BG (17); 351BG (17); and 91BG (17) despatched to bomb the city of Frankfurt. 37 aircraft are effective on the target; 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 14KIA 16POW. 1 airman is KIA in a returning aircraft and 2 are WIA; 35 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 18-8-22 of attacking German fighters.
The third element is a combined force of 115 B-17s from: 95BG (21); 100BG (25); 390BG (25); 385BG (20); and 94BG (24). 64 aircraft are effective on the industrial areas of Saarlautern, Germany; and 38 aircraft attack the German airfield at St. Dizier/Robinson, France. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 19POW 11EVD and 10RTD (rescued by ASR). The bomber gunners in this element claim 37-7-7 of attacking German fighters.
The fourth element is a combined force of 53 B017s from 96BG (35) and 388BG (18) depatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Sarreguemines, France and Saarbrucken, Germany. 47 aircraft are effective on these targets. There are no losses or claims, but 2 aircraft are damaged.
The fifth element is a force of 38 B-24s from 392BG (32) and 44BG (8) despatched to fly a diversion for the B-17s attacking at Franfurt, Germany. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 31KIA. Another aircraft returned to base but 2 of the crew baled out over the sea and were lost. 11 airmen were wounded in returning aircraft. 19 aircraft were damaged. The bomber guuners in this element claim 13-6-3 of attacking German aircraft.
DIVERSION
B-24 Liberator
Not yet known
Group
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group allocated B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 series fitted with a nose turret on the production line. The adaptation increased...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 19 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 33 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 11 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 13 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 6 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 3 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
77 aircraft hit Frankfurt, Germany. Mission leaders are 100 miles off course.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
| Tonnage dropped | 218.7 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 104 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 77 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 32 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 5 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 5 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 35 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 12 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 7 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
| Tonnage dropped | 88.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 51 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 37 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 35 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 15 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 16 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 18 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 22 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
| Tonnage dropped | 168.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 71 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 67 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 5 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 6 |
| Number of people Evaded | 5 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 15 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 37 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 7 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 7 |
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 102.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 53 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 47 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 2 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
| Tonnage dropped | 85.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 44 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 14 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 7 |
| Number of people Evaded | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 3 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 23 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
15 aircraft hit Wiesbaden, Germany
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
| Tonnage dropped | 46.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 15 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 15 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 15 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 7 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 6 |
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 381st Bomb Group
Baxter was dismissed from the USAAF for disobeying a command from Lt Karl Franek to report for flying duty and partake in the mission on 8 October 1943.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29870 'Big Moose'. Prisoner of War (POW). Missing Air Crew Report #1038. Earlier, on 4 October 1943 returning from a mission to Frankfurt, B-17 #42-30043 'Ruthless' ditched in The North Sea. The entire crew was...
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-31084, Killed in Action (KIA).
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
BTG, Yorba crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29803 'Flat Foot Floogie'. Mission #39 to the Kugel-Fisher ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 1037. S/Sgt Boylan had reported his ball turret had been hit...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3310 'Blood, Guts and Rust'. Plane ditched into Mediterranean Sea. Returned to base.
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-3328 'Miss Fortune', Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Born and raised in Kaufman County, Texas, Jim Burch studied for 2 years at the Terrell High School and began working as a salesman in a retail grocery in Terrell, Texas. Enlisting in April 1942, he followed Pilot training courses and was promoted to...
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-O] Cheyenne 13/9/42; Thurleigh 23/1/43; transferred 358BS/303BG Molesworth [VK-G] 25/9/43; 4m Missing in Action Duren 20/10/43 with John Hendry, Navigator: Bernie McNamara, Bombardier: Dick Webster Wounded in Action, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 31/12/42; Salina 7/1/43; Morrison 2/12/43; Homestead 14/2/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-D] Thurleigh 2/3/43; transferred 358BS/303BG [VK-K] Molesworth 30/7/43; 25m Missing in Action Oschersleben 26/1/44 with Jack Watson (RTD-alone),...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 25/2/45; Gore 9/3/43; Duncan 31/3/43; Dow Fd 10/4/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-P] Molesworth 16/5/43; 16m Missing in Action Frankfurt 4/10/43 with Vic Loughman, Co-pilot: Winfield Gredvig, Navigator: Jim Maxwell, Bombardier: Ed...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/5/43; Assigned to the 547BS/384BG [S0-G] Grafton Underwood 24/5/43, then the 546BS [BK-G]; Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Maj Maurice Stanley Dillingham, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne to 3/4/43; Sioux City 14/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 23/5/43; Assigned to the 547BS/384BG [SO-V] Grafton Underwood on 29 May 1943; Missing in Action Frankfurt 4 October 1943 with Giles Felker Kauffman, Co-pilot: George Molnar,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 3/4/43; Sioux City 14/4/43; Kearney 3/5/43; Bangor 23/5/43; Assigned 545BS/384BG [JD- ] Grafton Underwood 29/5/43; transferred 334BS/95BG [BG-M] Horham 28/6/43 SHE'S MY GAL;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Gore 9/5/43; Sioux City 10/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 1/6/43; crashed on take off for Bremen after encountering mechanical problems 13/11/43 with Bob Simons, Co-pilot: Alvin...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/6/43; Smoky Hill 13/7/43; Kearney 16/7/43; Dow Fd 19/7/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 20/7/43; (34m) transferred Aphrodite project as OLIN'S 69'ERS; when War Weary, fuselage cut down and vehicle windshield fitted before open...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 3/7/43; Kearney 24/7/43; Dow Fd 28/7/43; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-E] Chelveston 22/8/43; Missing in Action Bremen 26/11/43 with Bob Jackman, Co-pilot: Henry Thayer, Navigator: Jesse Seeley, Bombardier: Bob Tank, Radio Operator:...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2016 19:48:20 | Mags | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 July 2015 21:04:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 July 2015 20:37:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims on German fighters to statistics for Saarlautern per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 July 2015 20:27:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Wiesbaden statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A.Freeman |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 July 2015 20:24:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to tstatisitcs for the element attacking Frankfurt City (51) A/C per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 July 2015 20:19:54 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Correecting statistics on Frankfurt (Primary) attack per "the Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 July 2015 20:01:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Bomber gunner claims to the B-14 Diversion element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:16 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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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