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4 March 1943
Not yet known
After several weather-caused aborted attempts in attacking the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, the 8th Air Force is finally successful in attacking this target. A total of 71 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (18); 305BG (12) amd 306BG (21). The 91BG is selected to lead the attack, but the formation experiences heavy clouds and is forced to fly on instruments. The 91BG gets separated from the main attacking force, but finds clear air over the target. The 91BG becomes the only Group despatched to actually attack the target. This becomes the first heavy bomber mission to bomb a target in the Ruhr valley and for this they are awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. 16 of the 20 despatched bomb the target, but 4 aircraft are MIA.
Because the 91BG became separated from the main force, the rest of the force attacks the harbour facilities at Rotterdam, Holland. 16 of 18 despatched by 303BG are effective on Rotterdam and 12 of 12 despatched by 305BG are effective on this target. 306BG is unable to drop on Rotterdam and heads back to England. This Group is attacked by German fighters and 1 aircraft from 306BG is downed into the North Sea.
As part of this operation 14 B-24s are despatched to fly a diversion for the Hamm/Rotterdam attack. During this diversion they look for enemy shipping but the record does not indicate that any enemy ships were attacked.
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
The 91st Bomb Group was separated from the main force while on instruments and hit targets in the Ruhr valley. This is the first 8th Air Force attack on a Ruhr industrial target. The first Bomb Group to attack is the 91st Bomb Group and they are awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. They are the first Bomb Group selected to test flak suits. None of the 21 B-17s despatched by 306th Bomb Group were able to bomb the target. There is no fighter escort for this mission.
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 | 40 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 20 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 16 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 9 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 34 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 6 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 5 |
HARBOUR FACILITIES at Rotterdam, Holland are attacked as a target of Last Resort.
B-17 Flying Fortress
The attack is conducted by 16 of 18 B-17s despatched by 303BG and 12 of 12 B-17s despatched from 305BG. These formations had originally been slated to attack the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but they became separated from the lead group on that target, 91BG, and were forced to hit Rotterdam instead. The 306BG was unable to bomb.
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,...
| Tonnage dropped | 70 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 51 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 28 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 9 |
DIVERSION
B-24 Liberator
14 of 14 B-24s fly a diversion for the Hamm/Rotterdam force They look for enemy shipping but the record does not contain any information that indicates any enemy shipping was actually attacked. There were no losses or claims
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 | 14 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 14 |
Military | Captain | Lead Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
17-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth UK. He was despatched on 26 Operations - 25 credited. Served as a Lead Navigator on 23 of those missions. Completed a 25-Mission...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1LT Charles N. Austin was originally assigned to the 92BG and arrived in England in August 1942. On 10-Feb-43 he and his crew were transferred from 92BG to 303BG/358BS as a replacement crew and assigned to B-17F 41-24558 "Hunga Dunga". He participated...
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 | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
2LT Rollin P. Ball was Navigator on two differentt B-17s that were lost.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 4-Mar-43 in B-17F 41-24549 'Stupen Takit', 91BG/323BS while serving as Bombardier, the aircraft sustained a direct hit from AA fire just after leaving the target of the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. CPT McCarty ordered a bale out, but...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Killed in Action (KIA) on 4-Mar-43 in B-17F 41-24549 'Stupen Takit', 91BG/323BS while serving as Navigator. The aircraft sustained a direct hit from AA fire just after leaving the target of the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. CPT McCarty...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Killed in Action (KIA) on 4-Mar-43 in B-17F 41-24512 'Rose O' Day', 91BG/322BS while serving as Waist Gunner. The aircraft was repeadely attacked by German fighters and was seen to have the #2 engine on fire. The surviving crew were arderd to bale out...
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."
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Killed in Action (KIA) on 4-Mar-43 in B-17F 41-24464 'Excalibur', 91BG/324BS while serving as Pilot. Aircraft was ditched into North Sea 40 miles west of Texel Island, Holland after repeated fighter attacks. Plane broke in two. 7 crewmembers were...
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group on 15 Jan 1943. He was the 35th Officer to complete 25 missions. Reported on 05 Feb 1945 with the 2AF weather scouts. Retired as a Colonel from the USAF in 1972.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 367BS/306BG Westover 17-Aug-42; Thurleigh 13-Oct-42; transferred 324BS/91BG [DF-J] Bassingbourn 20-Feb-43; Missing in Action (MIA) 2m Hamm 4-Mar-43. Shot down by Lt Kostler (IV/NJG1) in Me 110, KO’d #1 & #3,oil pouring away before #4 was...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-N] Bangor 1-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 29-Sep-42; Missing in Action (MIA) 7+m Hamm 4-Mar-43. Aircraft sustained repeated attacks by fighters and crashed into the North Sea just of the southern tip of Texel Island, Holland. The crew...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-K] Kellogg Fd 15/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; CCRC Bovingdon 27/7/43; 384BG Grafton Underwood 22/9/43; Salvaged NBD 31/5/45. JERSEY BOUNCE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-25-BO 41-24549 'Stupen Takit was assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-Q] Bangor 10-Oct-42; Bassingbourn 11-Oct-42; Missing in Action (MIA) 14 missions over Hamm, Germany 4-Mar-43 The aircraft took a direct flak just after the target and exploded just minutes...
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 41-24559 'Ooold Soljer' was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-C] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-P] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42; Missing in Action 45m Oschersleben 11/1/44 with George McClellan, Co-pilot: Bill Fisher, ex B-26 pilot on his 1st mission, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Tempesta, Radio Operator...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-R] Bangor 25/9/42; Molesworth 26/10/42; transferred AFSC 25/5/43 for special gun tests; 1 CCRC Bovingdon /43; Returned to the USA 20/12/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 9/10/45.
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December 2014 19:04:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Description and statistics from "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" and "Losses of the 9th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 December 2014 18:58:59 | Lee8thbuff | Created event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description and statistics from "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 December 2014 18:51:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Description and statistics for Rotterdam from "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 December 2014 18:28:32 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop and "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| 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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