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

Elmo E Maiden

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 705741
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William J Mulholland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32335390
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Instrument Specialist / Mechanic / Aerial Gunner

John Stephen Proffitt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-823677
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William I Rebhan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Arthur K Rogers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

42-97760

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

42-97824

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane. Five men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front. Men are wearing cold-weather flying gear. There are canvas duffle bags on the ground in front of the men.

42-97960

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Ten 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 four men kneeling in front. Large canvas bags are on the ground.

42-98027

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Swamp Angel
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron

43-37703

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tremblin Gremlin II
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th 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)