355
13 May 1944
Photo from 42-107201 "Worry Bird" (95th BG 334th BS BG-J)
NARA Ref No 342-FH-3A22211-3A22211.
Object Number - UPL 19364 - 'Forts maul rail center -- Bombs from Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses strike the marshalling yards at Osnabruck as US 8th AAF heavies attacked 13 May...
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3 T HE
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 30.5 T HE
OSNABRUCK (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: 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, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 572.5 T HE
STETTIN (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Notes: The mission was originally planned to hit oil refinery targets in Poland but clouds force the mission to hit these targets in Germany instead. Luftwaffe opposition was heavy. 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, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 45 - POLITZ-STETTIN, POLAND 13 MAY, 1944 Having commenced the campaign to eliminate the German synthetic oil production, the 457th followed up by going to Politz to attack the second largest synthetic oil plant in Germany. This plant produced over 600,000 tons annually. The Group provided eighteen aircraft for the low box of the 94th Combat Wing. Major Theodore C. Hoffman served as AU Commander, and Lt. Malcolm E. Johnson was pilot. En route to the target area, the 40th and 41st Combat Wings came under vicious attack from FW-190s and Me-109s. The 94th Combat Wing was not intensively attacked. The target area was under approximately eight-tenths cloud coverage, which required PFF bombing, so the bomb run was made on Stettin. Bombing results were fair with a wide bomb pattern. Flak was moderate to heavy, however only one craft received damage. The Eighth lost fifteen bombers.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 659 T HE
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 103 T HE
TUTOW (Primary)
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 446 T HE
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39123538
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron 788th Bomb Squadron 467th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-659448
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19193344
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 0 752 479
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: - Hitler's Headache
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
![An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379271.jpg.webp?itok=QwML6lTh)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El's Belles
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Paisano
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damn Yankee
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
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'.