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: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32941838
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33721705
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39920700
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19162021
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner B-17

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left to right) Carl Johnson - Nose Gunner, Chuck Frazer - Gunner, Charles Gretz - Top Turret Gunner, "Bubba" Monroe - Co-Pilot, (front row, left to right) Dick Eselgroth - Navigator, Al Miller - Bombardier, Billy Duke - Pilot "Luke" Lucas - Radio Operator, Baldamore Garcia - Engineer, "Pan" Panarese - Tail Gunner . Image via RM Eselgroth. Written on slide casing: '
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Top O The Mark
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95183) nicknamed "Briney Marlin" of the 458th Bomb Group flies low over countryside.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Briney Marlin
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "I'll Get By" of the 390th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'B-17G "I'll Get By", 8th Air Force. Photo by R.J. Zorn.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ill Get By
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Queen
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Good Pickin
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th 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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