VIII Bomber Command 67
25 June 1943Description
This mission was intended to be the first major attack on the industrial area of Hamburg, Germany but weather and contrails made fromation flying too difficult and dangerous. As a result, the main formation 197 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 92BG (23); 303BG (25); 305BG (25); 306BG (23); 351BG (20); 379BG (20); 381BG (24); and 384BG (19) are forced to bomb targets of opportunity and German airfield an AA batteries in Wangerooge island. 2 B-17s attack a German ship convoy near the island. Of the 197 despatched 149 are effective on a target. Fighter opposition is heavy and the lack of tight formation among the bombers give the Germans ample opportunities to attack the bombers. 15 B-17 are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 46-8-27 of the enemy fighters.
A second formation of 78 B-17s is despatched from: 94BG (15), 94BG (18); 96BG (26); and 100BG (19) to attack at Hamburg, Germany but this formation is widly scattered and only 18 of the 78 despatched are successful in finding a target to bomb. 94BG and 96BG do not bomb at all. The 18 that do drop focus on hitting a German ship convoy near Juist island. This is the first combat mission for 100BG and they suffer the loss of 3 of their B-17s, the only ones lost from this formation. The encounter fighters and the bombe gunners claim 16-3-3 of the enemy fighters.
Mission Details
Description: CONVOY PATROL
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: The 100th Bomb Group flies their first mission, of 19 despatched only two were effective.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 45.00
- People killed in action: 25
- People wounded in action: 3
- Prisoners of war: 5
- Aircraft sent: 78
- Aircraft effective: 18
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 22
/
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: The primary target for this mission was Hamburg, Germany but clouds and heavy contrails broke up the formation and the mission was recalled, however a few apparently made it close to the target, TN42-5382 of 303rd Bomb Group was one of these lost Missing in Action (MIA). The targets listed in the table were bombed as a last resort. 7 YB-40s from 92nd Bomb Group are-assignedto escort the bombers but 3 abort. Both elements receive fighter support.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 363.50
- People killed in action: 59
- People wounded in action: 11
- Prisoners of war: 84
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 197
- Aircraft effective: 149
- Aircraft missing in action: 15
- Aircraft damaged: 39
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32226989
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735966
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-736081
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Patches (was originally named Cunningham's Coffin after the pilot, but no nose art carried)
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Ramblin' Wreck : Idaho Potato Peeler
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: S For Sugar
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Piccadilly Commando
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 5-Jan-2015. 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'.