315

24 April 1944
media-6853.jpeg UPL 6853 B-17 42-31632

Added aircraft serial number and connection to record.

Object Number - UPL 6853 - B-17 42-31632

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUINTY

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. Bombers also released 480,000 leaflets. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 31 - ERDING, GERMANY 24 APRIL, 1944 Luftwaffe installations, airdromes, and factories in southern Germany were the targets. The 457th was assigned the airfield and the air depot at Erding, a supply base for aircraft parts and equipment used by the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean. The Group supplied twenty-four aircraft to fly the low box in the 94th Combat Wing. The formation was led by Major Fred A. Spencer as Air Commander and Captain Jerry Godfrey as pilot. Me-109s and FW-190s attacked the formation on the bomb run and after the bombs were dropped. After a quick rally of the formation with the Wing, the attacks ceased. No planes were lost; however, two planes received major damage, and one received minor damage. Flak at certain points along the way was moderate but accurate.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 443 T HE

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group. 1 3rd Bomb Division attacked Neckarsulm because the primary was obscured by smoke. Note in log of Horace Turner, "Raided Friedrichshafen-Bad formation, Flak was terrific. Flak hit me in leg. It was a long and tiresome mission. Bombed gear factory. Flak hit plane."

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 423 T HE 163T IB

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 4454th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group. The 44 Bomb Group was scheduled to participate but was grounded due to an outbreak of ptomaine poisoning.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 303 T HE 232T IB

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

John Augustus Hoegen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31083077
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Earl Howard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-754426, POW#4106
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Douglas James Irvine

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: Canadian
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39616202
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Elmer D Johnson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36159477 / O-811210
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Don Vayo Kendall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0 800 898
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 95th Bomb Group return to Horham following a raid in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31320) nicknamed "I'll Be Around". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], '809571 [Censor no], 'Passed for publication 5 Mar 1944' [stamp] and 'USA(BRI)CCC' [ written annotation]. Printed caption on reverse: 'WRITE NEW CHAPTER IN BERLIN DIARY, FORTRESSES RAID GERMAN CAPITAL FOR FIRST TIME. Flying Fortresses battling their way through snow and a temperature of nearly "60 be

42-31320

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: I'll Be Around
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

42-31346

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shack Rabbit
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

42-31485

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Old Ironsides
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

42-31495

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wabbit Twacks
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

42-31514

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Full House
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoraquaflow1
Changes
Sources

Added by Karen Turner, daughter of Horace Turner.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Updated mission pin from 'OBERPFAFFENHOFEN' (coming up in an incorrect location) to Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.

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