VIII Bomber Command 37
26 February 1943
(Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)
Ds 6/30/2018
Object Number - UPL 23266 - Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed...
Description
After 10 days of weather related delays of the bomber offensive, a mission is organised with the port facilities of Emden, Germany as the primary target. However, Emden is obscured by cloud cover and all formations divert to attack the port facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 76 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (19); 305BG (20) and 306BG (17). 59 of this formation are effective on the target but 5 B-17s are MIA.
17 B-24s are also despatched with Emden as the primary, but they too divert to Wilhelmshaven. 44BG (11) and 93BG (6), of these only 6 are effective on the target and 2 from 44BG are MIA. The bomber gunners claim the following against German fighters: 21 destroyed; 9 probably destroyed; and 5 damaged. There is no fighter escort for this mission.
Mission Details
WILHELMSHAVEN (Opportunistic)
Description: NAVAL BASE
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 21.70
- People killed in action: 12
- Prisoners of war: 9
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 17
- Aircraft effective: 9
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
WILHELMSHAVEN (Opportunistic)
Description: PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: BREMEN was the primary target but was overcast by clouds. WILHELMSHAVEN chosen at target of opportunity. No fighter escort on this mission. Bomb tonnage includes one X 500GP dropped on a German convoy of ships.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 142.30
- People killed in action: 35
- People wounded in action: 14
- Prisoners of war: 17
- Aircraft sent: 76
- Aircraft effective: 59
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
Connections
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People
![Sergeant Bernard Aleys Gergash, of the 303rd Bomb Group, fills a water bucket. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238749.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '32a. Filling the bucket is Sgt. Bernard Aleys Gergash, of 1025 Union Ave., Chicago Heights. Aged 24, he worked as a radio operator with the C.A.A.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378924.jpg.webp?itok=OXfueaD3)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36302819
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-662777
- Highest Rank: Flight Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18035888
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier; Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37160959
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19040377
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The 8 Ball MK II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: SpitzFire
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 379th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron 526th Bomb Squadron
![Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407619.jpg.webp?itok=aEyghgX9)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iza Vailable
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Devil's Playmate
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description 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'.