770

30 December 1944
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission. media-380076.jpg FRE 1279 A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission.

Official Caption: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "This is It!", in foreground and other Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group, encounter flak opposition as they approach the target at Mainz, Germany, 30 December 1944. Roger Freeman Collection

Official caption from Fold 3

Object Number - FRE 1279 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission....

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

ALTENAHR

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

AUSKIRCHEN

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

BISCHOFFSHEIM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

BULLAY

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

IRLICH

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

KAISERSLAUTERN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KAISERSLAUTERN

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

KASSEL

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

KASSEL

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MAINZ

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MANNHEIM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MECHERNICH

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

REMAGEN BRIDGE

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2015293
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32931560
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Togglier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19070162
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Roarin Bill
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Homesick Angel
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 401st Bomb Group stand with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31662) nicknamed "Fancy Nancy IV" after fixing her engines. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Another famous Fort and her crew.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Shape
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Mary Alice" of the 401st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '401. Unknown. C2. '
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mary Alice
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Official Website of 385th Bomb Group Association

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest daughter of Lester Allen Wise, who flew on this mission as pilot with Jack Q. Means as co-pilot

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, pilot of B-17 (44-6569) 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, flew from Great Ashfield, England to Mannheim, 30 Dec 1944.

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest daughter of Lester Allen Wise

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest daughter of Lester Allen Wise, who flew as a B-17 pilot on this mission to Mannheim with the 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group from Great Ashfield, England

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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