370

25 May 1944
media-23768.jpeg UPL 23768 Strike photo - Mulhouse, France
25 May 1944
466th BG
466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Archives

Object Number - UPL 23768 - Strike photo - Mulhouse, France 25 May 1944 466th BG

Description

First mission. Up at 5:00 AM and back at 11:00. Good hit on marshaling yards. Our plane was hit but no-one in our crew was hit.

Mission Details

ALOST (Secondary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 23.5 T HE

BELFORT (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: Mission 370 is the largest raid to date based on the number of targets (21) to be attacked. Destruction of marshalling yards is a key strategy in preparation for the coming invasion on D-Day 6 June 1944. Luftwaffe opposition is light because prior mission have nearly decimated the Luftwaffe in France. 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 222.4 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 90 T HE

BRETIGNY (Secondary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 90.5 T HE

BRUSSELS/MELSBROEK (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 45 T HE

BRUSSELS/MIDI (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 71 T HE

BRUSSELS/SCHAERBECK (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: Not clear in source data which 3rd Bomb Division Bomb Groups hit these targets (See 3rd Bomb Divisionunits participating above )

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 127.5 T HE

DIJON (Secondary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3 T HE

FECAMP (Primary)

Description: GUN BATTERY

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 389th Bomb Group & 448th Bomb Group

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 51.8 T HE

FECAMP (Primary)

Description: GUN BATTERY

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 390th Bomb Group

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 50 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 125 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 125 T HE

LIEGE (Secondary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 7.5 T HE

METZ (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 51 - METZ, FRANCE 25 MAY, 1944 The railroad marshaling yards at Metz was the primary target for the 45 7th. Metz was on the main line from Saarbrucken to Paris. The Group provided two twelve-ship boxes for the mission. The lead box hit the assigned MPI, a locomotive workshop, within approximately 1,000 feet. The low box was more successful, scoring direct hits on the workshop, the yards and the adjoining buildings. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Flak was meager and inaccurate.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 161 T HE

MONTIGNIES SUR SAMBRE (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 34th Bomb Group, 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, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group. Not clear in source data which 3rd Bomb Division Bomb Groups hit these targets.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 198 T HE

MULHOUSE (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 348 T HE

NANCY/ESSAY (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 130 T HE

SAARGUEMINES (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 90 T HE

ST.VALERY (Primary)

Description: GUN BATTERY

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 92nd Bomb Group

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 45 T HE

THIONVILLE (Opportunistic)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 137.3 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 30 T HE

Connections

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People

  • 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: 323rd Bomb Group 455th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33105396
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
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
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11062335 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31013228
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Challenger
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Odd Ball : Double In Brass
  • Unit: 571st Bomb Squadron 390th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Damn Yankee
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Thomper
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorcmckeever
Changes
Sources

Daughter - Carol Rollinger McKeever

Date
Contributorcmckeever
Changes
Sources

Daughter - Carol Rollinger McKeever

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'.

370: Gallery (7 items)