338

4 May 1944

Mission 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.

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.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-815837
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15333425
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner/Airplane Armorer
Headshot of man wearing  Air Force leather flying gear including leather helmet and goggles on head
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11093338
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Headshot of smiling man wearing military uniform and cap
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17128306
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dark Angel
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pappy Time
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bonnie Donnie
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Betty J.
  • 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

Revisions

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'.