338
4 May 1944Mission Details
BERGEN/ALKMAAR (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: Target hit as one of opportunity BY 40 V-17s
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 116 T HE
BERLIN (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Mission is recalled due to cloud cover. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 39 - BERLIN, GERMANY 4 MAY, 1944 The target was the Friednchstrasse railroad station, located in the center of Berlin. It was the nerve center of the most important rail transportation network in Germany. Eighteen aircraft were committed to the mission. Major Leroy Watson was Air Commander, and Lt. Mark R. Belcher was pilot. Due to adverse weather conditions, the mission was recalled after the aircraft were over the Continent. However, seventeen of the aircraft dropped bombs on an airdrome near Bergen, Holland, a target of opportunity. The bomb run was made difficult by contrails and the prop wash of other wings. Bombing results were fair. Flak was moderate but accurate along the route, and several bombers suffered damage.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
BERLIN (Primary) (RC)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Notes: Mission is recalled due to cloud cover. 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 392nd Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 06966455
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18216616
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36703821
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Togglier, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Rough Riders
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Big Dick Hard To Hit
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 325th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group
Revisions
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
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'.