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344

8 May 1944

  • B-24H-10-DT #41-28743

    B-24H-10-DT #41-28743 "Eastern Beast" Code: 2U-H

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  • MACR 5248 41-28743

    MACR 5248 41-28743 "Eastern Beast" 466th BG | 785th BS 08 May 1944

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  • Walter Priebe application for headstone marker

    Walter Priebe application for headstone marker

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  • William H.

    William H. "Buddy" Peters B-24 at Tibenham airfield

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  • 466th BG Mission Route Map 8 May 1944 Brunswick, Germany Twenty-five 466th BG aircraft dropped 64.5 tons of bombs on target. There was fighter opposition. The Fawver Crew (#525) of the 785th BS was badly shot up and two of gunners bailed out and were made POW. The Czapko crew lost six feet of their right wing due to enemy fire but made it back safely.

    466th BG Mission Route Map 8 May 1944 Brunswick, Germany Twenty-five 466th BG aircraft dropped 64.5 tons of bombs on target. There was fighter opposition. The Fawver Crew (#525) of the 785th BS was badly shot up and two of gunners bailed out and were made POW. The Czapko crew lost six feet of their right wing due to enemy fire but made it back safely.

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  • B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG, crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Brunswick/Berlin - 08 May 1944; photo from files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper

    B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG, crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Brunswick/Berlin - 08 May 1944; photo from files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper

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  • B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG, crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick; photo from the files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper

    B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG, crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick; photo from the files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper

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  • B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG - crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick - 08 May 1944; from the files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper

    B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG - crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick - 08 May 1944; from the files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper

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  • B-17G 42-102482, 339th Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group 08 May 1944 crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany after extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick; from the files of the WolfenButtel, Germany newspaper 42-102482 Del Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Ass 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; MIA Berlin 8/5/44 w/Harry Eye, cp-Leland Baker, btg-Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3KIA); n-Joe McElroy, b-Carl Thinnes, ettg-Chas Chase, ro-Bill Pierson, wg-W.C. Parnell, wg-Jack McIlraith, tg-Leroy Chamberlain (7POW); e/a, c/l two miles W of Wolfenbuettel, nine miles S of Brunswick, Ger. MACR 4575.

    B-17G 42-102482, 339th Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group 08 May 1944 crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany after extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick; from the files of the WolfenButtel, Germany newspaper 42-102482 Del Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Ass 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; MIA Berlin 8/5/44 w/Harry Eye, cp-Leland Baker, btg-Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3KIA); n-Joe McElroy, b-Carl Thinnes, ettg-Chas Chase, ro-Bill Pierson, wg-W.C. Parnell, wg-Jack McIlraith, tg-Leroy Chamberlain (7POW); e/a, c/l two miles W of Wolfenbuettel, nine miles S of Brunswick, Ger. MACR 4575.

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Official description

Not yet known

Description

Not yet known

Mission details

1.

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 2.5 T HE

2. BERLIN (Primary)

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

The 45 Combat Bombardment Wing became separated from the Berlin force and came under heavy attack by German fighters. They bombed Brunswick as a target of last resort.

1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 405th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group.

3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group. 96th Bomb Group takes a beating, losing 10 B-17s.

457th BG - MISSION NO. 41 - BERLIN, GERMANY

8 MAY, 1944

The center of Berlin was the target. The 457th put up the lead box and two-thirds of the high box in the 94th Combat Wing. Col. Luper served as Air Commander of the lead A Wing, with Lt. Russell M. Selwyn as pilot. Captain William F. Smith was Air Commander of the high box, while Lt. Charles D. Brannan was pilot. The 40 1st Bomb Group comprised the low box.

The target was completely overcast, so the fourteen attacking aircraft bombed the primary target with unobserved results. Ten aircraft bombed Brandenburg and its vicinity, also with unobserved results; eleven craft attacked targets of opportunity.

Bombing was done in a wing bombing formation. The smoke bomb of the wing lead PFF craft failed to operate and trail smoke. This complication caused a problem to develop because the low and lead groups could not see the bombs fall. Upon being advised the bombs had been dropped, the other craft sought optional targets.

Flak opposition was intense, damaging seventeen aircraft. One of the craft in the low box (401st) took a direct hit causing it to go into a spin and crash. Only one chute was observed.

Units

  • 1st Bomb Division

    1st Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 1st Bomb Wing came under the command of the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.

  • 3rd Bomb Division

    3rd Bomb Division

    Division
    The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 892 T HE

3. BRANDENBURG (L)

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 42 T HE

4. BRUNSWICK (L)

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 101.5 T HE

5. Brunswick, Germany

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group.

Units

  • 2nd Bomb Division

    2nd Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 794.5 T HE

6. MAGDERBURG (L)

Description

OIL REFINERIES

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 18.5 T HE

Service

People

  • John Akers

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot - B-17 Flying Fortress | 457th Bomb Group
    John Akers Jr grew up in Greenville, TX on a cotton farm. Graduated High School May 1939. His days consisted of working the cotton farm with 2 mules and picking the cotton. After seeing the events of Pearl Harbor during his time in the civilian...

  • Danny Altman

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 548th 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew on B-17 'Jeanne Rickey' for 25 x combat missions. Had 2 x missions on D-Day, 4 x bombing missions to Berlin. ...

  • Robert Andrews

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 548th 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 34 x combat missions. Claimed Me109 on 8-May-44 Berlin mission in B-17 42-97530, flying tail gunner for 1Lt Frederick H Ihlenburg. "Quittin' Time" and crew barely made it home over white cliffs of Dover to an RAF...

  • Richard Autry

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Crew Number 51

  • Robert Baldi

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Crew Number 51

  • James Bates

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group

  • Melvin Baumgartel

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. 5 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) from Berlin in B-17 42-102541 8-May-44; A/C rammed by Me109, exploding due to wing tank fire. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4574 ...

  • William Blount

    Military | Major | Navigator | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 337BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. Milt Shoesmith crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-39998; shot down by enemy fighters and crashed at Rosthausen near Clappenburg, Germany 8-May-44 Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 5174 ...

  • Vernon Bohn

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Crew Number 7

  • Joseph Booth

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 389th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 41-28711 "Little Sheppard"

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. ...

  • 41-28743 Eastern Beast

    B-24 Liberator
    Assigned to 785BS, 466BBG, 8AF USAAF. Hit by 20mm flak direct hit taking out the Oxygen, electrical and hydraulic systems and starting a large fire. Went into dive after leaving the target area of Brunswick 8-May-44. S/Sgt's Carlson and Cannon bailed...

  • 42-102451

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Slated 385BG, Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-T] Snetterton 7/4/44. Missing in Action Berlin 8 May 1944 with Pilot George T. Sterler, Tail gunner: Edward A. Muszynski (2 Prisoners of War). Co-pilot:...

  • 42-107061 Peg O' My Heart

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 9/2/44; Gr Island 18/2/44; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 13/3/44; Missing in Action Laon 8/5/44 with Searl Pickett, Co-pilot: Bob Roan, Navigator: Bob Shields, Bombardier: Mervin Jacobs, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Abar (5...

  • 42-30212 Quarterback

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...

  • 42-30595 'Gremlin Gus II' "Olin's 69'ers"

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 26/6/43; Smoky Hill 13/7/43; Kearney 16/7/43; Dow Fd 19/7/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 20/7/43; (34m) transferred Aphrodite project as OLIN'S 69'ERS; when War Weary, fuselage cut down and vehicle windshield fitted before open...

  • 42-30778 Old 66/Lady Margaret

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 28/7/43; Gore 6/8/43; Pendleton 12/8/43; Reno 14/8/43; Pierre 16/8/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 3/9/43; crashed on take off for France 13/8/44 with Leon Sutton, Co-pilot: Harlan Thompson, Navigator: George Healy, Bombardier:...

  • 42-30855 "Ol' Massa"

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 10/8/43; Gr Isle 3/9/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-N] Deenethorpe 3/1/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Dana Lenkelt, Co-pilot: Wendell Johnson, Bombardier: Harry Dershimer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jesse Pack, Radio...

  • 42-31495 Wabbit Twacks

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 11/11/43; Kearney 1/12/43; Romulus 9/12/43; Presque Is 16/12/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG [SU-R] Grafton Underwood 21/1/44; Missing in Action Sottevast, France 8 May 1944 with James Foster, Co-pilot: Clifford Johnson, Navigator: Joseph...

  • 42-31741 Thunderbolt/Hi Fever

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 12/12/43; Kearney 30/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner 14/1/44; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/1/44; Missing in Action Liege 25/5/44 with Capt Jim Zengerle, Co-pilot: Albt Millin, Navigator: Walt Travis, Bombardier: Capt Wayne Barnett,...

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Crash sites

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 02:20:06 466thHistorian Changes to person associations and aircraft associations
Sources

466th BG Historian
Date Contributor Update
20 May 2015 13:21:28 general ira snapsorter Changes to event
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:43:06 AAM AAM ingest
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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