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: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-755018
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Navigator / Bombardier Instructor
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-699180
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33421883
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17115017
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-808459
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31235) nicknamed 'Goin' Dog' of the 384th Bomb Group takes off for a mission. A censor has obscured the triangle P and serial number on the aircraft's tail. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 24 April 1944.' [stamp] and '313357.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Back from Berlin. Crews of US Fortress Station returning from the Berlin raid which took place recently. 34320. A Fortress takes off- destination Berlin
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Goin' Dog
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
My Dad's plane : 42-31277
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 401st Bomb Group stand with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31662) nicknamed "Fancy Nancy IV" after fixing her engines. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Another famous Fort and her crew.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dottie G II
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mrs. Satan | The Queen of Hell
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th 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'.