DOCUMENT 52935
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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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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Nobody's Baby
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little moe
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pakawalup II
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Son of a Blitz
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Heaven Can Wait, Boche Buster
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Locations
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Mission
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
Revisions
Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47
Contributoracbernstein1
Date: 6 Nov 2021 23:43:30
Contributoracbernstein1