843

23 February 1945

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

ADELSBERG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

ANSBACH

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

CRAILSHEIM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

ELLINGEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

FRITZLAR

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

FULDA

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

GERA

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: AC 44-8413 of the 490th BG flew this mission, although crews notes indicate it was on 2-22-45. Crew indicated targets were "communication lines". This crew got separated from the main formation and bombed a railroad yard as a "target of opportunity" in order to reduce weight so they had enough fuel to get back to base. (See video account of this mission in video of Wendell R. Lee.)

HILDBURGHAUSEN

Description: RAIL JUNCTION

JENA

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KITZINGEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Landsberg am Lech, Germany

Description: AIRFIELD

LEIPHEIM

Description: AIRFIELD

LICHTENFELDS

Description: RAILROADS

MEININGEN

Description: RAILROADS

NEUBERG

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 141 P-47s and P-51s make a strafing sweep over these airfields.

NEUMARKT

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

NORDLINGEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

OSNABRUCK

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

OTTINGEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

PADERBORN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

PLAUEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

REICHENBACH

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

SCHLUCHTERN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

SCHWABISHCH HALL

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

SCHWEINFURT

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

STEINAU

Description: RAILROADS

TREUCHTLINGEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is a continuation of OPERATION CLARION

WEIMAR

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

WINTERHAUSEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

WURZBURG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

ZWOLLE

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

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: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39849255
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot on B-17
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 2065046
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-433086
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32874367
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2062494
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nevada Avenger
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
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
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ill Get By
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97105) of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Paper Doll
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shade Ruff #2
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributormarshaferraro
Changes
Sources

Personal list of 30 missions Lloyd C. Kenagy participated in with the 401st Bomb Group 613th Squadron between Aug 1, 1944 and April 11, 1945.

Date
ContributorTom989898
Changes
Sources

Tommy Ryan Lee, son of Wendell R. Lee, Waist gunner and radio operator on AC 44-8413. Video of Wendell R. Lee.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Changed 'LANDBERG' to 'Landsberg am Lech, Germany'.

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'.