VIII Bomber Command 78
28 July 1943
MACR 141from AFHRA/RSA Maxwell AFB, AL 27 Apr 2007
Nephew John G Gorse
Object Number - UPL 19275 - Nance Pg 2
Description
The German aircraft industry at Kassel (Fieseler works) and Oscherleben, Germany are the primary targets of this mission. 182 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 92BG (17); 303BG (20); 305BG (21); 306BG (24); 351BG (21); 379BG (19); 381BG (20); and 384BG (20) are dispatched to bomb the Fiesler works at Kassel, Germany. Weather causes 155 aircraft to abandon the mission. Only 41 are effective on the target; 2 aircraft drop on Wetrup, Germany; 16 others drop on various targets of opportunity near Kassel. 7 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR) - 24KIA 47POW. 4 B-17s are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 3WIA 37RTD. The bomber gunners claim 27-15-22 of the attacking enemy fighters.
The second element is a combined force of 120 B-17s from: 94BG (18); 95BG (20); 96BG (21); 100BG (21); 385BG (26); and 388BG (14) were dispatched to bomb the AGO Flugwerke Fw 190 factory at Oschersleben, Germany. Weather frustrated bombing efforts and only 28 of this formation were able to effectively bomb the primary. 8 aircraft from 95BG attacked Grossalsleben by mistake through a gap in the cloud cover. A total of 15 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR); 7 of these were from 96BG. 90KIA 55POW 1DIC 5EVD. The bomber gunners claimed 56-19-41 of the attacking enemy aircraft.
Mission Details
Description: FIESELER AIRCRAFT WORKS INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Bad weather hampers mission causing 155 aircraft to abort the mission. 49 hit Kassel, the primary, and 9 hit other Targets of Opportunity.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 109.00
- People killed in action: 24
- People wounded in action: 15
- Prisoners of war: 47
- People returned to duty: 40
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 27
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 15
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 22
- Aircraft sent: 182
- Aircraft effective: 58
- Aircraft missing in action: 7
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 54
Description: FW190 AIRCRAFT PLANT
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 8 aircraft from 95th Bomb Group bombed Alsleben by mistake because of incorrect target identification through the clouds. None of 100th Bomb Group aircraft hit the target because of clouds. Only 28 aircraft hit the primary target. Deepest penetration to date. 105 P-47 with belly tanks escort. This is the first use of P-47 as long range escorts. Fighters from the 4th Fighter Group are the first to penetrate German airspace. Germans effective with A2A rockets. 2nd Lt. John C. "Red" Morgan (Co-pilot, 42-29802 "Ruthie II") 326BS/92nd Bomb Group is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during this action. 3rd CMOH awarded to a member of the 8th Air Force.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 67.90
- People killed in action: 93
- People wounded in action: 11
- People evaded: 5
- Prisoners of war: 56
- People returned to duty: 7
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 56
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 19
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 41
- Aircraft sent: 120
- Aircraft effective: 37
- Aircraft missing in action: 15
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 64
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20946205 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-675361
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665319
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735139
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17088641
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Merrie Hell
- Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Trouble Shooter
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Snuffy
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Liberty Bell
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
Related media
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: Norville John Gorse
- Object Number: Document 19261
- Description: Captain Norville John Gorse, "A WWII Allied Air Attack"
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Oschersleben statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Kassel statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War DIary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.