736

4 December 1944
media-6521.jpeg 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), 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

Bebra

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: A mix of 290 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.

FRIEDBURG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

FULDA

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

GIESSEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KASSEL

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: A mix of 375 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data. 457th BG MISSION NO 155 : KASSEL, GERMANY : 4 DECEMBER 1944 The winter weather had become a reality-cold, damp, foggy days with only afew hours of daylight. Coke for heating was rationed, with little available to heat the crew huts. Base personnel, using American ingenuity, resorted to various and sundry means to secure an extra fuel supply, whether it be a raid on the coke storage house, cutting limbs (or entire trees) from the King 's Forest, or burning cardboard or used engine oil. The dismal weather created'a gloomy atmosphere and there was little doubt among the crewmen that the war would extend into 1945. ft was 4 December before a mission could get airborne. When it became apparent that it was impossible to catch the formation, the Group Leader called for fighters to escort the Group to the target. The course was flown approximately as briefed, but the formation lost about seven minutes from the first Control Point to the last turn before the IP, because winds were not as briefed. The 457th succeeded in joining the Division formation between the second and third group, a few minutes before the IP was reached. The IP was crossed on course, and as cloud coverage was ten tenths, it became necessary to make a PFF run on the target. Bombing was done in Group formation with the lead craft performing the sighting operation. Meager, inaccurate flak caused no interference on the bomb run, and bombs were dropped at 25,000 feet. Although photos showed the ground to be obscured by clouds, analysis of the position of the aircraft after bombs away with relationship to the ground as seen through a hole in the undercast, shows that built up areas were definitely hit. All crews returned safely. Although takeoff had been in early morning, the bombers barely returned before the early afternoon darkness.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

KOBLENZ

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MAINZ

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

RHINE RIVER

Description: BARGES

SOEST

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Connections

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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: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12077778
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator-Mechanic-Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (4Z-V+) nicknamed "Wolves Inc." of the 791st Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '467th B.G., 4Z-V+.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dynamite John
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th 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: Little Kenny
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjdossetter
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

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'.

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