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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.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 21, 5 Feb 1944, Chateauroux, France. The results of bombing Chateauroux Airfield were excellent. Pictures of 401st bombs striking the target appeared in Stars and Stripes and in London newspapers. They showed the target completely demolished. One aircraft, "Nasty Habit", was landed safely on three engines by its co-pilot, Lt. George Hellmuth, and engineer, Sgt. James Bailey, both of whom were wounded, after the pilot, Lt. Harry Piper, was severely wounded. Hellmuth and Bailey both passed out after landing the aircraft. Upon return all aircraft were accounted for by 1439 hours--23 at Deenthorpe, one at Gravesend with three wounded, and one at Abingdon with one dead (Sgt. Fatcia) and two seriously wounded (Sgts. Minor and Moneybaker).
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 23, 11 Feb 1944, Frankfurt, Germany.
Captain Donald McCree led the Group to Frankfurt, the site of important aircraft and manufacturing plants. He reported a very successful mission, stating: "We could see the target area, and our bombs smacked right into it. The fighter support was superb." One aircraft (#026) landed at 1111 hours after being shot up by one of our own B-17's, running off the runway with a flat tire and all rudder controls gone. All other operational aircraft were back by 1555 hours.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 24, 20 Feb 1944, Leipzig, Germany.
All 41 aircraft were airborne by 0955, constituting two complete boxes of 18 aircraft each plus spares. All but two operational aircraft had returned by 0730 hours, one of which was later reported to have landed at Raydon.
Colonel Bowman led the 1st Bomb Division in an operation to Leipzig, where the 8th Air Force struck the greatest blow yet to German aircraft production. For this achievement, the 401st received messages of commendation from Generals Doolittle and Williams.
Lt. (later Major) Alvah Chapman, with Capt. Silver, Deputy Group Commander, in the co-pilot's seat, brought his aircraft, "Battlin Betty", back safely, flying across much of Germany at low altitude after having had two engines shot out and suffering major damage to brakes, flaps and fuselage.
Lt. Edward T. Gardner, the pilot of Doolittle's Doughboys" (# 42-31518) gave his life for his crew, holding the B-17 steady until the other nine crew members had safely bailed out, by which time it was too late to bail out himself.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No.22, 6 Feb 1944, Caen.
Colonel Bowman led the Group on a mission originally scheduled to attack a target at Dijon, France. However, because of bad weather the Group hit Caen airfield, a target of opportunity. Following the mission Colonel Bowman was instructed by headquarters to avoid the Caen area--obviously because it was to be a focal point of the D-Day landing four months later. All aircraft had landed from operational mission by 1603 hours.
Delivered Denver 17/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Cincinnati 9/12/43; Rome 11/12/43; Presque Is 14/12/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-G] Deenethorpe 1/2/44; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/2/44 with Ed Gardner`found Pilz, near Gommern – bailed too low, 12/3/44` Radio Operator: Fred Monnes, Waist gunner: Sal Trupia (3 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: George Carter, Navigator: Carroll Gouger, Bombardier: John Foster, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dale Minard, Ball turret gunner: Pete Piazza, Waist gunner: Francis Durben,Tail gunner: Steve Bosowski (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed between Pechau & Wahlitz, six miles E of Magdeburg, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 2437. DOOLITTLE'S DOUGHBOYS.
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 | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
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Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters after the bombing mission to Leipzig on 20 Feb 1944, B-17G #42-31518 'Doolittle's Doughboys' left formation and attempted to reach Sweden but was hit again by fighters. The remaining crew baled out before the aircraft exploded and...
Missions
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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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5 February 1944
German airfield in France are the targets for this mission. All three Bomb Divisions despatch aircraft. The combined bomber gunner's claims of all three Bomb Divisions were 5-0-5 (displayed with Chateauroux element of 1BD). Summary as follows:
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6 February 1944
German airfields and V-Weapon sites in France are the primary targets of this mission. A combined force total of 642 heavy bombers are depatched from 8th Air Force 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. The primary targets of 1st Bomb Division were the...
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11 February 1944
This mission is composed of two separate elements. 3rd Bomb Division stands down having sustained massive losses of 29 aircraft on the previous day.
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20 February 1944
This mission is the opening salvo of the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive known officially as "Operation Argument" but remembered in 8th Air Force History as "BIG WEEK". The immediate strategic objective of this six-day operation is the degradation of...
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 |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany |
20 February 1944 |