361
22 May 1944
Timothy Motz, from Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41056
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.
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.
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
![A bomber crew of the 453rd Bomb Group wait on a jeep. Letter enclosed with print: '[Left to Right] James E Terwilliger- Waist Gunner, Luhter M Clark- Co-pilot, Carl Powell- Navigator, Lattie P Head- Nose Gunner, Nicholas Radosevich- Pilot, Edmund M Survilla- Tail Gunner, Lt ? Lee- Bombardier (Robert Burgess was the Bombardier on the original crew), Joseph D Craft- Radio operator, Robert Victor- Waist Gunner, Robert O Hanson- Engineer- Top Turret. Original Cadre- Model (Crew #41) 734th Squadron, 453rd Bomb](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380672.jpg.webp?itok=L5hegKpe)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-743088
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 750th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17065626 / O-747333
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: AO 748 823 / 6862108
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot/co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18179394
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Airplane Mechanic Gunner 748
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12185222
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Round Tripper
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shark Tooth
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
![A 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37870) nicknamed "Palma II" after crash-landing on the 30 January 1944. Official caption on image: "(GAD-1-2-305) (30-1-44) (A/C 23870[sic] Crash Landing)."](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-458161.jpg.webp?itok=bUBioIXa)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Palma II
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Nevada Avenger
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little America II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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.
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'.