VIII Bomber Command 143
30 November 1943![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation. Passed for publication 15 Nov 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Flying Fortresses In Action. Here is a series of pictures taken of Flying Fortresses over enemy territoty[sic] during a recent raid. These four engined "giants" are doing a good job with their successful daylight operations, and every bomb dropped is helping to speed up the end of the war. Photo Shows:- Aerial scenes of Fortresses over enemy territory in formation and in f](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-413703.jpg.webp?itok=iaTPaJ1H)
In the foreground, the "Liberty Belle" (#42-30096) Roger Freeman Collection
Documented sources
Object Number - FRE 7692 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation. Passed for publication 15 Nov 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Flying...
Description
This mission is directed at a single target - the industrial areas of Solingen, Germany. The mission consists of three elements. The first element is a force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (24); 92BG (20); 303BG (20); 305BG (16); 306BG (22); 351BG (34); 379BG (22); 381BG (22); 384BG (20); and 401BG (21). Only 1 aircraft from 303BG is effective on the target because of thick could formations, the rest are recalled. 1 aircraft explodes over Heldon, UK on return. 10KIA. 3 aircraft are damaged. There are no bomber gunner claims from this element.
The second element is a combined force of 128 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division that included 94BG (32); 95BG (20); 96BG (14); 100BG (18); 385BG (13); 388BG (12); and 390BG (19). 78 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 7KIA 13POW 6RTD (rescued by ASR). 2 airmen are KIA and 10 are WIA in returning aircraft. 6 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 1-0-0 of attacking German fighters.
NOTE: the above formations were supported by 3 PFF equipped B-17s from 482BG. Only 1 was effective the other two were recalled.
The third element is a small force of 29 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (24) and 389BG (5). Heavy cloud cover over the target prevented any bombing. Ther were no losses or claims in this element although 10 airmen were WIA in returning aircraft.
Mission Details
SOLINGEN (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 221.55
- People killed in action: 16
- People wounded in action: 6
- Prisoners of war: 13
- People returned to duty: 6
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 128
- Aircraft effective: 78
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 6
SOLINGEN (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Includes 3 Pathfinder (PFF) B-17s. 270 B-17s and all the B-24s abort due to cloudiness that prevents assembly. One B-17 hits Welmerskirchen with 8 X 500Gp and 20 X 100 IB. Only 303rd Bomb Group hits the target with one aircraft.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2.80
- People killed in action: 10
- Aircraft sent: 224
- Aircraft effective: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 3
SOLINGEN (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Unable to assemble properly, mission scrubbed.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
- Aircraft sent: 29
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: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12050909
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-799377
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 10601362
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32517860
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Holy Terror
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lonesome Polecat II
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: T'aint A Bird II
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Liberty Belle
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Destiny's Tot | Cincinnati Queen | Kathy Jane III
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 3BD element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "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'.