-
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 11, 4 Jan 1944, Kiel, Germany.
The lead aircraft, piloted by Capt. Garland with Major Martin as Group Air Commander, developed engine trouble and was forced to ditch in the North Sea. Two crewmen were lost in the icy seas, but miraculously the other eight survived. The Group lead was taken over by Lt. James Goodman, who led the 401st over the target on a highly successful mission.
-
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 12, 5 Jan 1944, Tours, France.
All aircraft returned from mission by 1452 hours. Colonel Rogner expressed his pleasure with the way the crews kept close formation to and from the target.
-
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 13, 7 Jan 1944, Ludwigshaven, Germany.
Chemical works of Farbenindustrie. Nineteen aircraft were off by 0900; one later returned. All aircraft were back safely by 1600 hours. The bombing destroyed a large section of the chemical plant stretching along the northern side of the river. Farbenindustrie covered a stretch of land eight miles long and three miles wide.
-
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 Denver 21/9/43; Scott 7/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-B] Deenethorpe 23/12/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 30/1/44 with Ron Rohner, Navigator: Stan Johnson, Bombardier: Emil Smetana, Radio Operator: John Morreale, Ball turret gunner: Ken Dickerson (5 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Frank Leonard, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Surowski, Waist gunner: Cliff Barker, Waist gunner: Lowell Reif, Tail gunner: Harry Cyr (5 Prisoner of War); flak damage then FW190 KO’d #2, crashed Beienrode, three miles N of Konigslutter, 11 miles E of Brunswick, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report (2276) 2876. FANCY NANCY III.
Service
Units
-
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...
-
People
-
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator; Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
DFC/ AM w/ 5 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Unit Citation w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
1 Damaged
-
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Barker, a native of Yorktown, Ind., was a burly 6-foot-2 inch forward on the 1948 Kentucky team that finished the season with a 36-3 record, the national title and the nickname of the Fabulous Five. The other starters were Wallace (Wah Wah) Jones at...
-
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30-Jan-44 in B-17 42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2876
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
-
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 31 x combat missions. ETD
...
-
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
-
Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
-
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III'. Prisoner of War (POW).
-
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 January 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III'. Killed in Action (KIA).
-
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down during bombing mission over Brunswick, Germany 30 Jan 1944 in B-17G #42-37856 'Fancy Nancy III'. Prisoner of War (POW).
-
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Son of Walter and Arlene Rohner; brother of Kathleen. Enlisted in the US Army, National Guard, on March 3, 1941 at Camp Flint in Auburn, California. He was attending Placer Junior College at the time but withdrew when the Guard became an active part of...
Show more
Missions
-
4 January 1944
The port area of Kiel, Germany and the railroad marshalling yards at Munster, Germany are the Primary targets of this Mission which is organised as two elements: one going to Kiel and the other to Munster. Roger A. Freeman begins to designate aircraft...
-
5 January 1944
This mission consists of five elements: The first element is a combined force of 131 B-17s are despatched by 1st Bomb Division: 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; 384BG; and 482BG to bomb the shipyards and industrial areas of Kiel, Germany. 119 are...
-
7 January 1944
The industrial areas of Ludwigshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. The formation has three elements. The bomber gunners of the entire force claim 30-6-17 of attacking German aircraft.
...
-
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...
Places
-
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 |
30 January 1944 |