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15 May 1943
Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed "SpitzFire" (Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)
Lt. Carroll Dayle Briscoe flying the Joan of Arc (42-29477), the plane his crew became known for. 1943
Not yet known
The missions of VIII Bomber Command are becoming more sophisticated. The primary stratgic target for today is the U-Boat pens, marshalling yards and Luftwaffe airfield at Emden, Germany. The resistance of Luftwaffe fighters is a primary concern for the planners, but they realise that the bombers are the only way to get the Luftwaffe to commit their resources.
The overall plan is to despatch 116 American P-47s from 4FG, 56FG and 78FG on a sweep of the Dutch coast in the Rotterdam/Amsterdam area well in front of the bomber streams as the first part of the coordinated attack (see VIII Fighter Command FO-19 for details).
The second element in the coordinated plan is the despatch of 113 B-17s from: 91BG (25); 92BG (10); 303BG (24); 305BG (30); and 306BG (19) to attack the naval facilities at Heligoland Island and the Luftwaffe airfields at Wangerooge and Dune Islands. 305BG and 306BG form together as a composite group. While the targets do have some strategic value, the idea is that his force will draw away the fighter defenses that would come against the Emden effort. As part of this deception 19 B-17s from 351BG will break off to attack the harbour faciliities at Wilhelmshaven. The plan works well even though only 76 of the 113 aircraft despatched are effective on their targets. Aircraft losses are moderate at 5 MIA. The bomber gunners in this formation claim 29-30-30 on enemy fighters
The first element helped the 351BG on their attack on Wilhelmshaven allowing 18 of the 19 despatched to bomb at Wilhelmshaven with 1 aircraft MIA. This Group claims 3-0-0 on German fighters.
61 B-17s are despatched against the main strategic target of Emden by the newer 8AF Bomb Groups: 94BG (26); 95BG (12); and 96BG (23). The lead bombardier of 94BG makes an error and that Group's bombs fall short. 41 of the 61 aircraft despatched are effective on the target, but there are NO B-17 losses in this formation. Fighter resistance is light-moderate and the bomber gunners claim 14-3-1.
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
Error by a bombardier in 94th Bomb Group causes incendiary bombs of one B-17 to fall short.
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...
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...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 122.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 61 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 41 |
U-BOAT YARD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Primary target was the harbour facilities at Wilhelmshaven.
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 14.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 19 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 18 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 10 |
The German naval base at Heligoland Island; the Luftwaffe fighter airfield on Dune; and the Luftwaffe fighter airfield on Wangerooge Island are the targets for this formation. This is part of a coordinated strike to support the primary strategic mission of attacking Wilhelmashaven and Emden, Germany. It is believed that this large force of 113 B-17s, flying approximately 10 minutes ahead of the force sent to Wilhelmshaven/Emden, will draw fighters away from the stratgic force, as well as destroy two Luftwaffe airfields of fighters that may be scrambled.
B-17 Flying Fortress
The 305th Bomb Group and the 303rd Bomb Group formed a composite group on this raid.
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...
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 | 186.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 113 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 76 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 26 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 30 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 22 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
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.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Reuben Carr was Waist gunner on board of B-17 ≠42-29744, shot down 15 May 1943 in B-17 #42-29744 the "Battling-Bee" Piloted by 1Lt. Frank Clemons. Aircraft took direct hit from Flak in open bomb bay. All crew members from Radio Compartment aft were KIA...
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
James Clark was Co-Pilot on board of B-17 ≠42-29744 'Battling Bee', shot down 15 May 1943. Plane crash-landed in shallow water near Cuxhaven, Germany. Clark bailed out of aircraft, was captured on land near Altenwalde. Prisoner of War (POW) Stalag Luft...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 15 May 1943 in B-17 42-29744 'Battling Bee'. Plane crashed into North Sea between Neuwerk Island and Cuxhaven, in shallow water. Pilot Lt. Clemons was the last to bail out, low altitude and landed in North Sea. Body was recovered from the...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
William Condon was Engineer/Top Turret gunner on board of B-17 ≠42-29744, lost 15 May 1943, crashed in the North Sea near Cuxhaven, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW)
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot/Command Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Crossley was credited with 12 confirmed e/a kills. A record for 8th AF gunners.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Roy Fries was Tail gunner on board of B-17 ≠42-29744, shot down 15 May 1943 in B-17F #42-29744. Plane crashed into North Sea between Neuwerk Island and Cuxhaven, Germany. Killed in Action (KIA). Remains not recovered. Memorialized on the "Tablets of...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Oran Highley was Bombardier on board of B-17 ≠42-29744, shot down 15 May 1943 in B-17F-70-BO [GY-O] #42-29744 "Battling Bee". Plane crashed into shallow water between Neuwerk Island and Cuxhaven, Germany. Captured at Altenwalde, sent to Dulag Luft for...
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
Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/43; Salina 7/2/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-M] Molesworth 26/3/43. 18 missions. Missing in Action on the mission to bomb the airfield at Amiens-Glisy, France on 31 August 1943. Pilot: William J. Monahan; Co-pilot: Louis M....
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/2/43; Rapid City 22/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Morrison 14/4/43; Dow Fd 21/4/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-W] Alconbury 25/4/43; 3m, Written off after another aircraft 42-29685 exploded nearby on base 27/5/43, Salvaged. PASSION FLOWER.
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 18/2/43; Salina 2/3/43; Assigned 367BS/306BG [GY-O] Thurleigh 20/4/43. Missing in Action Heligoland Airdrome 15 May 1943 with Pilot Frank B. Clemons Jr, Radio Operator: John L. Mulherin, Ball turret gunner: Donald A. Kind, Waist...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 6/10/42; New Castle 19/10/42; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-U] Molesworth 1/2/43; battle damaged Bremen 28/11/43 with Harry Bolsover, Co-pilot: Chas Rice, Navigator: Byron Clark, Bombardier: Chas McLain, Flight engineer/top turret gunner:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 14/10/42; Salina 31/1/43; Morrison 4/3/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-Z] Molesworth 8/4/43; 25m Missing in Action Anklam 9/10/43 with Bernard Clifford, Co-pilot: Chas Jahn, Navigator: Chas Stata, Bombardier: Bob Bruce, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 29/11/42; Salina 25/1/43.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 2/3/43; Walla Walla 29/3/43; Lowry 10/4/43; Presque Is 24/4/43; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-W] Thurleigh 7/5/43; Missing in Action Kiel 29/7/43 with Keith Conley, Co-pilot: Vince DeVos, Bombardier: Bob Sanford, Radio Operator: Frank...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2016 19:06:24 | Mags | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 January 2015 21:05:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-Jan-2015. Corrected statistics on Emden. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 January 2015 21:02:25 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-Jan-2015. Descritpion based on "the Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 January 2015 20:15:12 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-Jan-2015. Description based on "USAFF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 January 2015 19:56:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-Jan-2015. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop. |
||
| 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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