4 February 1943
Not yet known
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s despatched from: 91BG (17); 303BG (13) 305BG (18) and 306BG (16). Cloud cover prevents bombing of the primary target at Hamm, Germany and the formation diverts to the target of last resort, the industrial area of Emden, Germany. Only 39 of the 65 despatched are effective on the target. Of the 18 despatched by 305BG, none are able to bomb. 5 B-17s are lost, one of these due to a mid-air collision with a German FW190. One B-17 from 91BG joins one B-24 from 44BG (both aborts) in dropping their bomb loads on a German ship convoy in the North Sea (results not determined).
Another formation of 21 B-24s is also despatched to attack the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany: 44BG (15) and 93BG (6), but extreme cold (-40C) causes the formation to abort and turn back near the Dutch coast. There are no losses in this formation.
PORT AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
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 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 | 95.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 65 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 39 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 25 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 17 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 15 |
| Number of people Died in Captivity | 1 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 25 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 6 |
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-24 Liberator
Both the 44th Bomb Group and the 93rd Bomb Group turned back before reaching the Dutch coast due to extreme cold below -40C (limit of thermometers). But one B-24 from 44th Bomb Group and one B-17 from 91st Bomb Group managed to unload 22 X 500Gp on a German ship convoy. No fighter escort for any elements in this mission. None of the 18 B-17s of 305th Bomb Group were effective against the target. One B-17 from 305th Bomb Group serial number 42-5060 suffered a mid-air collision with an enemy Fw 190 - 10 Killed in Action (KIA). Heavy cloud cover at primary HAMM caused diversion to EMDEN at target of last resort. The is the first time the Germans have used twin engine fighters (Ju-88 and Me-110) against 8th Air Force bomber formations.
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...
Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 21 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Orginally assigned with the 92BG at Bovingdon, UK as an Aerial Gunner with the rank of Sergeant. He flew his first mission (and the only one with the 92BG) on 21-Oct-42.
...
Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Bombardier. Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
06-Mar-42 Assigned as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 [PU-C] "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer"
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Mar-42 Assigned to 303BG/360BS in B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soldier" as 2LT and Co-Pilot. Gowen Field (Boise), Idaho.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Killed in Action (KIA) in B-17F 41-24589 'Texas Bronco' while serving as Bombardier. Aircraft was damaged by flak on a mission to bomb the port area of Emden, Germany (last resort) then attacked by German fighters. ME 110s and JU88s. Beiseker was...
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with the rank of Sergeant. 303BG personnel record does not indicate that he was assigned to any particular crew at that time and does not indicate when he arrived at...
Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Waist Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Pilot. Killed in Action (KIA). Attacked by fighters. Crashed in North Sea near Terschelling Island.
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
6-Mar-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 [PU-C], "Ooold Soljer:, 303BG 360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer."
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24544 "Pennsylvania Polka" was assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-O] Bangor 10-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 26-Oct-42; Shot down 4-Feb-43 by fighters 12 miles NW of the tip of Terschelling Island, Holland while on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-25-BO 41-24558 [VK:F] "Hunga Dunga" was assigned to the 358BS/303BG [VK-F] at Bangor. Maine on 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action Vegasack 18-Mar-43 when it was attacked by enemy aircraft near Helgoland. Germany...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot: [GN:V] was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-W] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24589 "Texas Bronco" was assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-R] Dow Field, Bangor 15-Sep-42; with Gene Ellis, wrecked, while turning plane into takeoff position, tail wheel ran off runway causing tail section severed from rear bulkhead, 5-Oct-42, repaired...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24593 "El Lobo" was assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-G] Presque Is 19-Oct-42; Grafton Underwood 25-Oct-42; Missing in Action4-Feb-42. Primary target was the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany but the target was obscured by clouds and the port...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 42-5060 was delivered Cheyenne 13-Sep-42; Houlton 22-Oct-42; Assigned 422BS/305BG [JJ-Q] Chelveston 12-Nov-42; Missing in Action 4-Feb-43. Mission was to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany but the target was obscured by clouds,...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 16 February 2015 17:32:51 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics on Emden per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 December 2014 19:34:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Dec-2014. Correction of typo in description. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 December 2014 18:55:17 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop and John A. Hey MBE. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | 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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