361

22 May 1944

Object Number - UPL 44303 - 8th Air Force mission 361; May 22, 1944; Kiel, Germany. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

Description

From diary of Lt. David W. Leblanc: "Was up at four for a mission to Kiel, Germany. I went as first pilot and Rocky as my co-pilot. Every thing went along swell except at target. Flack was moderate but extremely accurate. Two ships in the lead squadron received direct hits. The flames from one were licking our right wing and we could feel the heat in the cockpit. As far as we know no one got out of either ship. We had several holes in our ship. We flew beautiful formation today. Made a fairly good landing. Hayden - our waist gunner finished up today."

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 12.5 T HE

KIEL (Primary)

Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 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, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 48 - MEL, GERMANY 22 MAY, 1944 The 457th Bomb Group led the entire Eighth Air Force, consisting of seven combat wings, on the raid to the submarine yards at Kiel Colonel Hams E. Rogner, flying a PFF ship and later to become the Commanding Officer of the 457th, was Air Commander for the mission. Major George C. Hozier Was Deputy Lead. The primary target was attacked; however, the bomb results were not good. There was no enemy air opposition. Flak was moderate and inaccurate with two craft sustaining damage.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."

1st Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

3rd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 623 T HE

SIRACOURT (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group.

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'

2nd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 336. 5 T HE

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Jack Douglas Agee

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6962724
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Robert B Allison

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 65th General Hospital
  • Service Numbers: 55619
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Harold S Arnold

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31037975 / O-681515
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Arthur H Aull

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-434690
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Operations Officer

Thomas H Barton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18115880
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-102485

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bare Essentials
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

42-102580

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

42-102674

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Packawalup III
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

42-107017

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron

42-107207

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date27 Oct 2017 00:54:15
ContributorB17VforVictor
Sources

Not sure if I am doing this correctly. I would like to add a mission narrative (see above) from my Grandfather's diary regarding this mission.

Date27 May 2015 09:46:20
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:06
ContributorAAM
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'.

361: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 44303 - 8th Air Force mission 361; May 22, 1944; Kiel...