355

13 May 1944
media-19364.jpeg 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 44. Smoke from a nearby steel plant can be seen rising as the American bombs take their toll. Hits were also registered on the steel plant. 95th BG.'
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

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People

The insignia of the 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19178073
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
The insignia of the 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33538024
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 447th Sub-Depot 708th Bomb Squadron 709th Bomb Squadron 710th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (13th Combat Bomb Wing) Headquarters (447th Bomb Group) 447th Signal Construction Battalion Headquarters & Headquarters Company (447th Signal Construction Battalion) 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: general maintenance, spare bomber gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34507515
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flexible Gunner/ Togglier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pappy Time
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mountaineer
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quarterback
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Olin's 69ers, Gremlin Gus II
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th 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'.

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