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AC # 42-31091 'Maggie' 615th BS, 401st BG
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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. 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. 8, 24 December 1943, Gorenflos, Germany.
For some time, through photographic reconnaisance and reports from the French underground, it had been known that the Germans were building concrete ramps near the French coast aimed a a number of points in the U.K. These were the famous V-1 rocket sites which were to rain terror on England.
No enemy opposition of any kind was encountered on this mission, and all ships and crews returned safely to base. Milk run.
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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. 14, 11 Jan 1944, Oschersleben, Germany.
This was one of the greatest air battles of World War II. The Group put up the most aircraft to date as part of a maximum effort. German resistance was fierce, involving heavy flak, dozens of fighters and balloon mines. The Group shot down a number of Luftwaffe fighters. It was on this mission that Major James Howard, a P-51 pilot, remained after all other U.S. fighters had left and engaged a swarm of Luftwaffe fighters attacking the 401st, for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Aircraft piloted by Lt. S.G. Nason ("Pee-Tey-Kuh" #42-31033), Lt. H. J. Chapman ("Carolina Queen #42-37809), Capt. J. H. Foster (#42-39969) and Lt. D.C. Sprecher (#42-39893)were shot down by either fighters or flak. Due to bad weather on return, all aircraft were diverted to a number of other bases
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 15, 14 Jan 1944, Gorenflos, France.
The Group's bombing pattern, led by Group Bombardier Captain Julius Pickoff, was superb. B-17 SC-M landed safely on instruments after the pilot ordered the crew to bail out over the field. No crew members were injured.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 16, 21 Jan 1944, Pas De Calais.
23 operational aircraft were off by 1230. All planes returned safely by 1554 hours. This short mission was to the French rocket coast. It was a successful mission, with no enemy opposition.
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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 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/43; Scott 21/10/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-O] Deenethorpe 4/11/43; Missing in Action Merseburg 11/9/44 with Milton Wingard, Co-pilot: Bob Abresch, Navigator: Bob Sullivan, Tail gunner: Ed Chiariello (4 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Willard King, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Rutledge, Radio Operator: Ernie Cicogna, Ball turret gunner: Pat Winzey, Waist gunner: Bill Ingram (5 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Pegau, S of Liepzig, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8920. MAGGIE.
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 | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 11-Sep-44 in B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 8920
Awards: AM (3OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Bill Trimble crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD). See the page with details about his evasion at...
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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 | First Lieutenant | Navigator; Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
DFC/ AM w/ 5 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Unit Citation w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
1 Damaged
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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 | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 61BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 27 x combat missions. Shot down 11-Sep-44 in B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 8920
Awards: AM, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 x combat missions. Shot down 11-Sep-44 in B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8920
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew on B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'.
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Shot down 11-Sep-44 in B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8920
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Shot down 11-Sep-44 in B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8920
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
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Missions
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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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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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24 December 1943
This mission is directed at V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. The attacks are made between 1330-1510hrs. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 277 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG ...
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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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11 January 1944
Three aviation industry targets in Germany are bombed. The bomber force consists of 291 B-17s despatched from 1st Bomb Division in two elements, one element of 177 B-17s is despatched to Oschersleben, Germany as the primary target, the other 1BD...
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14 January 1944
This mission is a combined effort of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions to attack V-Weapon sites near the French coast near Pas-de-Calaise. Some targets of opportunity were also bombed. A total of 20 out of 21 V-Weapon sites are hit with varying results.
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21 January 1944
This mission is directed at 36 V-Weapon sites (34 in the Pas-de-Calaise area and 2 in the Chrebourg area of France) 24 of these are bombed successfully. All three Bomb Divisions participate in the attacks and the bomber gunners claimed 5-1-2 of...
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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...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany |
11 September 1944 |