351

11 May 1944

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 93 T HE

BRUSSELS (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 136 T HE

BRUSSELS/MIDI (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: Another massive attack on railroad marshalling yards in preparation for D-Day. Fighter opposition is very light. 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, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 148 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 161 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 147 T HE

Liège, Belgium

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 350 T HE

LUXEMBOURG (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 43 - CITY OF LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG 11 MAY, 1944 This mission was a return of Mission No. 42, in which eighteen aircraft participated. The Group, led by Major George C. Hozier, Air Commander, and Lt. Mark R. Beicher as pilot, formed the low box for the 94th Combat Wing. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). The route was direct to the target area. The bombs were released from 17,000 feet with excellent results. No enemy fighters were encountered, and no flak was observed.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 158 T HE

LUXEMBOURG/BETTEMBOURG (Opportunistic)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 57 T HE

MALINES (Opportunistic)

Description: RAILROAD JUNCTION

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 60 T HE

SAARBRUCKEN (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 166 T HE

THIONVILLE (Secondary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 36 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 47 T HE

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38002619
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Air Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 491st Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15354024
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33352403
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38310101
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane.  Five men standing in rear and four men seated in front
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 858th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-811064
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Thomper
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nina
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Devil's Brat
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Doodle Bug
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Updated mission pin from 'LEIGE' (the pin had fixed in north England) to 'Liège, Belgium'.

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'.