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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 3, 5 Dec 1943, Paris, France.
Aircraft 42-39825 crashed on take-off into the village of Deenethorpe. It was believed a combination of prop wash and icing resulted in loss of power and caused the port wing to sink until it touched the runway, turning the aircraft to port and down the hill into the village.
Eight of the crew managed to scramble clear and dashed around the village to warn the inhabitants to run for their lives before the burning plane exploded. The navigator and bombardier were in the nose of the aircraft and were badly injured. They were bravely rescued by ground personnel and recovered eventually from their injuries. Twenty minutes after the crash, the aircraft, load with 6000 pounds of bombs and over 2000 gallons of aviation fuel, exploded with a tremendous roar, taking the 401st fire tender up with it.
The ground crew who braved the burning aircraft to rescue the injured men were M/Sgt Earl K. Williams and M/Sgt Francis F. Snider, who dragged clear Lt Carl T. Floto (the navigator), and Capt Ralph J. White and Cpl William N. Luna who rescued Lt John J. King (the bombardier).
The loss of the fire tender should have meant that the Group be diverted to other bases upon returning from the mission, but this also had its problems. The aircraft were still loaded with bombs and the crews on their first or second missions in most cases. After much heartsearching permission was finally given for them to land back at the base without a fire truck standing by. The touch downs were without incident and everyone breathed again.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 4, 11 Dec 1943, Emden, Germany.
1521 hours - All aircraft down except 42-31098 (IW-B - "Penny's Thunderhead") which landed at Lindholme RAF base, Yorkshire, after sustaining heavy battle damage (eight crew members having bailed out).
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions sent up 523 four-engine bombers on this mission with 17 aircraft lost and 138 aircraft damaged. The claims for the bombers were 86-22-23 and the fighters 21-0-7.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 5, 13 Dec 1943, Kiel, Germany.
Eighteen aircraft attacked the primary target, the bombing having been carried out by PFF methods due to poor weather, with unobserved results. Four aircraft of the 401st sustained battle damage but all returned safely.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 6, 20 Dec 1943, Bremen, Germany.
Fifteen of the dispatched aircraft hit the primary target, with 14 of the Group's aircraft sustaining battle damage.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 7, 22 Dec 1943, Osnabruck, Germany.
The Group flew the lead box position in the Wing formation. After starting the bomb run, the formation found itself on a collision course with a group that had bombed nearby Munster as a diversion, and were forced to turn short and were unable to drop their bombs. In the confusion, aircraft 42-37835 was struck by a bomb from a B-17 in a higher element, but was able to return to England where the crew bailed out over the base.
Aircraft 42-37835 (SC-J "Channel Express") was unable to land due to loss of controls and the crew bailed out over the base. The plane crashed near the town of Washingley, Huntingtonshire.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 9, 30 Dec 1943, Ludwigshaven, Germany.
This was the longest mission yet flown by the Group with ten hours engine time recorded. The target was attacked by PFF method in Wing formation. No results were observed.
The 401st suffered its first combat-related aircraft loss on this mission, when ship 42-39826, piloted by Lt. Trian Neag, was shot down by flak near Saarbruken, Germany.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 10, 31 Dec 1943, Cognac, France.
The primary target (Bordeaux) was obscured by cloud so the Wing Leader (Major Seawell) ordered the formation to proceed to the secondary target, a Luftwaffe Airbase at Cognac, which was bombed with excellent results.
Major I Wayne Eveland, 614th Squadron Commander, flying with Lt. H.E. McDanal and his crew in "Flak Rat" (42-37770) was shot down by fighters but evaded capture, ultimately returning to Deenethrope via Spain.
The wreckage of B-17 aircraft "Hey Lou" (42-31064), piloted by Lt. D. H. Lawry, was found off the coast of southern England. The cause of the loss was not determined, and only one body was recovered.
Two other aircraft ran out of fuel and were abandoned by the crews.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 17, 29 Jan 1944, Frankfurt, Germany.
35 aircraft were airborne by 0849 but five aborted the mission and returned. Air Raid warning sounded. The Group encountered heavy flak and fighters, resulting in the loss of four aircraft and crews, while three aircraft landed at Deenethorpe with wounded aboard. The crews lost were those of Lt. J. Tannahill (#42-31486),Lt. D. T. Nicklawsky (#42-40057), Capt. R. W. Beers ("Little Boots" #42-31193) and Lt. L. G. Van Syckle (#42-38012).
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 18, 30 Jan 1944, Brunswick, Germany.
All aircraft returned by 1547 except # 856, shot down over the target. Lt. Col. Rogner and the 401st led the Combat Wing on this mission, which culminated 72 hours of the greatest bombing assault ever staged over Europe. Over 800 U. S. heavy bombers were engaged the operation, and 1,800 tons of bombs were dropped. Aircraft "Fancy Nancy III" (42-37856)piloted by Lt. R. R. Rohner,was shot down over the target by an FW-190.
Delivered Cheyenne 16/9/43; Scott 21/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-A] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; transferred 615BS [IY-A]; Missing in Action Munster 30/9/44 with Tom Davis, Co-pilot: Alan Newcomb, Navigator: Herb Corwin, Bombardier: Henry Kaczorowski, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Wallace Littrell, Radio Operator: Max Stedman, Ball turret gunner: Pete Kervan, Waist gunner: Jack Djmal, Tail gunner: Don Cloutier (9 Prisoner of War); flak set #1 afire, but escorted by five P-51s, crashed Burgsteinfurt, NW of Munster, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 9416. PAKAWALUP II.
Service
Units
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Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
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People
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. On 27-Jan-44, while taxiing after landing from a training flight, the landing gear switch of B-17 42-31414 was placed in the up position instead of the flap switch. RTD.
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Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier, Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Don Currie crew. 38 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
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Military | Major | Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Clyde Lewis crew.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Captain | Co-Pilot / Fighter pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x missions on B-17's as co-pilot to 1st Lt Fred D Grinham.
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Burgsteinfurt on 9/30/44 in B-17 'Pakawalup II'#4231077. T/O from Deenethorpe, target Munster; hit by flak setting no. 1 engine on fire. Last seen at 1400hrs near Dutch-German border escorted by five P-51s. Crew of...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Bursteinfurt on 9/30/44 in B-17 'Pakawalup II' #4231077. Target Munster, hit by flak setting no. 1 engine on fire. Last seen at 1400hrs near Dutch-German border escorted by five P-51s. Crew of nine, all Prisoner of...
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Munster in B-17 42-31077 'Pakawalup II' 30-Sep-44; hit by flak setting no. 1 engine on fire, crashed near Bursteinfurt. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 9416
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Burgsteinfurt on 9/30/44 in B-17 'Pakawalup II'#4231077. T/O from Deenethorpe, target Munster; hit by flak setting no. 1 engine on fire. Last seen at 1400hrs near Dutch-German border escorted by five P-51s. Crew of...
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Missions
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5 December 1943
This mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 216 B-17 from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (10); 92BG (19); 303BG (20); 305BG (20); 306BG (21); 351BG (35); 379BG (21); 381BG (30); 384BG (20); and 301BG (20)...
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11 December 1943
This mission is a massive raid of 583 heavy bombers on the industrial areas of Emden, Germany. The first element is a combined force of 242 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (24); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 305BG (21); 306BG (20); 351BG (40)...
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13 December 1943
The port areas at Bremen and Kiel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. This is the first mission where more than 600 aircraft are despatched. This mission is comprised of 8 elements. The first element consists 182 B-17s from: 91BG (31);...
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20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with...
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22 December 1943
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF...
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30 December 1943
The port area and oil refineries at Ludwigshaven, Germany are the target for this massive attack of 710 heavy bombers. The despatch includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG, 11 of these are effective on the mission, 3 are damaged, and the bomber...
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31 December 1943
This mission is the last heavy bomber operation of 1943. 1943 had been a very "tough" year for the 8th Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). 23365 B-17s had been despatched on missions and 881 had Failed to Return (FTR) for a loss...
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29 January 1944
The primary target for this mission was the railroad marshalling yards and industrial areas of Frankfurt, Germany. A combined force of 863 heavy bombers were despatched in three elements to make the attack. The combined bomber gunner claims on enemy...
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30 January 1944
This mission has the aviation industry at Brunswick, Germany as the primary target. The mission is composed of a combined force pf 777 heavy bomber aircraft despatched in three elements: 1st Bomb Division; 2nd Bomb Division and 3rd Bomb Division. The...
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3 February 1944
The port area and Naval facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany was the primary target for this mission. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Divisions all participated.
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Places
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Military site : airfield
Deenethorpe was a base purpose-built for American heavy bombers, with the Class A regulation 2,000 and 1,400-yard runways. All the buildings on site,such as the accommodation and administrative blocks, were temporary. In December 1943, several local...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Delivered |
Cheyenne, WY, USA |
16 September 1943 |
Shot Down |
Burgsteinfurt, 48565 Steinfurt, Germany |
30 September 1944 |
Tom Davis Crew
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