319A

26 April 1944

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Brunswick, Germany

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 33 - WAGGUM / BRUNSWICK, GERMANY 26 APRIL, 1944 The target was the ME-110 aircraft assembly plant at Waggum, a repeat of Mission 22 flown on March 29th. Since the last mission, all buildings hac been repaired except one, and an entirely new hangar had been constructed. The Group supplied 24 planes and led the 94th Combat Wing with Col. Luper leading as the Air Commander. Lt Russell M. Selwyn was pilot. Due to heavy undercast at the primary target, all aircraft dropped bombs on the secondary target within the nearby city of Brunswick. Bombing results were unobserved. Flak over the target area was moderate to heavy, with six aircraft sustaining damage. Groups flying behind the 94th Wing caught heavy concentrations of flak. For the Eighth Air Force, this mission was noteworthy for the lack of enemy aircraft opposition and for the fact that bombers returned to their respective bases without and losses reported.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 269.5 T HE 110 T IB

Brunswick, Germany

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: The lead PATHFINDER (PFF) aircraft of the last Combat Bombardment Wing of the 3rd Bomb Division had a fire which caused the failure of the PATHFINDER (PFF) equipment, so bombs were dropped in the Hildesheim/Hannover area. Heavy overcast prevented all Groups from bombing the primaries. 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, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 345T HE 86T IB

HILDESHIEM/HANNOVER

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

PADERBORN (Primary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: The entire formation fails to bomb because there were no EQUIPPED-equipped aircraft in the formation and overcast prevented visual bombing.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

Connections

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People

  • 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
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13005271
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 39274737
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armorer Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-704569
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37413477
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armorer / Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol Dog
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wrinkled Belly Baby
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pride of Vhelhalis
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Lopin Lobo
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorWWII37
Changes
Sources

711th Bombardment Squadron (H), 447th Bombardment Group (H)
B-17-G #42-39882, “My Gal” Crew
Top Left to Right: August E. Herlth, Eugene G. D'Albero, Larry S. Hatfield, Martin J. Gruber
Bottom Left to Right: William M. Lindgren, Bailey E. Swadley, Raymond L. Hayes, William H. Stoyer, Rocco J. LoCarro, Louis L. Jenkins

Date
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'.