725
26 November 1944
Elmo Maiden Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B), Gustave J. Roussel (E), Guerino G. Petti (N), Herbert Rosenkoff (CP), William A. Thomason (TT), Elmo Maiden (P), Kenneth W. Chester (NG), Joseph R. Zebrowski (R/O)
B-24J-5-DT #42-51532 Code: U8-W
Photo taken on 27 December 1944 after crash landing at an airfield in Belgium.
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
Object Number - UPL 6521 - Crew #664 Elmo Maiden Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B),...
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
ALTENBEKEN
Description: RAIL VIADUCT
BIELEFELD
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
BIELEFELD/SCHIDESCHE
Description: RAIL VIADUCT
Notes: A mix of 208 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data. The 491st Bomb Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (1st of 1)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 122.5
- Aircraft sent: 38
- Aircraft effective: 35
- Aircraft damaged: 2
GUTERSLOH
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
HAMM
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
HANNOVER
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
HERFORD
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
MISBURG
Description: OIL REFINERY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Note re: A/C 42-102565 and Joseph M. Price from source : http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=price&GSfn=joseph&GSmn=m&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1944&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=84854482&df=all& "Sgt Price was a B-17 gunner flying a mission to Germany. Flying over Holland, he and other crew bailed out of the plane over Ijssel Lake, before it crashed in Apeldoorn." Sgt Price's story, along with many others, may be found in the book, "Not Home for Christmas, A Day in the Life of the Mighty Eight", by John Meurs. 457th BG MISSION NO. 152 : MISBURG, GERMANY : 26 NOVEMBER, 1944 The natural oil refinery at Misburg was the target for the 457th. Although last hit by the 2nd Division on 4 November, it had been left completely undamaged. The Group comprised the 94th B Combat Wing, with Major Peresich as Air Commander. Assembly was accomplished without difficulty and the formation proceeded to the target area. The route to the IP was flown as briefed. Some difficulty was encountered over enemy territory when it became necessary for the Group to "S" on course in order to stay in proper position behind the preceding group. Following in trail of groups ahead, the Group overshot the IP. The bomb run was combined PFF and visual. The target area was visible from the IP, but the MPI was obscured by both clouds and smoke. The bombs were dropped, the lead aircraft performing the sighting operation. The flak was moderate to intense and it was fairly accurate. A number of aircraft sustained damage. Bomb results were unobserved.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
- 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
MISBURG
Description: OIL REFINERY
Notes: A mix of 292 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
OSNABRUCK
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
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: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36743988
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-716310
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dynamite John
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
![An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379271.jpg.webp?itok=QwML6lTh)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El's Belles
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Paisano
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lucky Lady : Screaming Eagle
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Kenny
- Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
Revisions
466th BG - Report on Mission No 144, RR Viaduct, Bielefeld, Germany, 26 Nov 1944
NARA Research by Brad Sullivan
466th BG - Report on Mission No 144, RR Viaduct, Bielefeld, Germany, 26 Nov 1944
NARA Research by Brad Sullivan
466th BG - Report on Mission No 144, RR Viaduct, Bielefeld, Germany, 26 Nov 1944
NARA Research by Brad Sullivan
466th BG - Report on Mission No 144, RR Viaduct, Bielefeld, Germany, 26 Nov 1944
NARA Research by Brad Sullivan
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
Updated event details from source : http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=price&GSfn=joseph…;
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'.
