709

10 November 1944
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-97968) of the 486th Bomb Group bombs the target during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '54979 AC- BOMBING THROUGH CLOUD- Flying Fortresses of US 8th AF bombed German airfield at Wiesbaden, west of Franksurt, Nov 10th through broken cloud. Attack made in support of Gen Patton's 3rd Army advance was designed to ground German Aircraft. US Air Force Photo.' media-380830.jpg FRE 2026 A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-97968) of the 486th Bomb Group bombs the target during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '54979 AC- BOMBING THROUGH CLOUD- Flying Fortresses of US 8th AF bombed German airfield at Wiesbaden, west of Franksurt, Nov 10th through broken cloud. Attack made in support of Gen Patton's 3rd Army advance was designed to ground German Aircraft. US Air Force Photo.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 2026 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-97968) of the 486th Bomb Group bombs the target during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '54979 AC-...

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: COMMUNICATIONS TARGETS

Notes: This is a bomber-bomber mission

COLOGNE/BUTZWEILHOF

Description: AIRFIELD

COLOGNE/OSTHEIM

Description: AIRFIELD

HANAU

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

HANAU/LANGENDIEBACH

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: A mix of 261 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data. This is the last combat mission flown by the 489th BG. They have flown 106 missions in 2,998 sorties and dropped 6,951 tons of bombs. They report 29 aircraft MIA and other operational losses of 12 aircraft. They will depart the UK on 28 Nov 44 for the US to be re-outfitted with B-29s and be scheduled to be sent to the Pacific Theater in late Aug 45 but VJ day cancels deployment. Group inactivated 17 Oct 45.

WEISEBADEN

Description: AIRFIELD

WEISEBADEN

Description: SCREENING MISSION

WIESBADEN/HALLE

Description: AIRFIELD

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11085503
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane parked on grass.  Six men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are on the ground.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Copilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795240
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36515334
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-699647
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear, five men kneeling in front.  The men are wearing combat flying gear.  Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hale's Angels
  • Unit: 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Kenny
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nina
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Dog
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Gremlins Hotel : Queenie
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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'.

709: Gallery (4 items)