425

20 June 1944
media-7209.jpeg UPL 7209 Strike Photo - Ostermoor, Germany oil refinery
20 June 1944
466th BG - 22 aircraft dropped 66 tons of bombs on this target and returned to Attlebridge without suffering any losses.

466th BG Archives

Object Number - UPL 7209 - Strike Photo - Ostermoor, Germany oil refinery 20 June 1944 466th BG - 22 aircraft dropped 66 tons of bombs on this target and returned to...

Description

Bombed an airfield. We were hit by flak; a piece hit Palmer's armor plate and another hit a gas tank. Probriefed in the evening for a big secret mission.

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 2 T

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24.6 T

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 7.9 T

BRUNSBUTTEL (Opportunistic)

Description: CANAL LOCK

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 34.7 T

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17sis 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

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 305 T

HAMBURG/DEUT.PETR (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 155.5 T

HAMBURG/EBANO (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 178.5 T

HAMBURG/EUROTANK (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 71 - HAMBURG, GERMANY 20 JUNE, 1944 Crude oil refineries were the designated targets of a return trip to Hamburg. The Group was assigned the Europaische Tanklager-u-Transport A. G., the largest in Germany. It was located on the dock area of the Elbe River. Two 18 ship boxes were furnished by the Group. Major Theodore C. Hoffman was Air Commander and Captain Russell M. Selwyn was pilot of the lead B box. Captain J. L. Smith was Commander of the low B box, with Lt. Edward B. Dozier as pilot. Bombing results were excellent, making the mission overall one of the most successful raids of the war. Approximately seven enemy aircraft were encountered by the Group. Antiaircraft fire was intense and accurate in the target area. The craft piloted by Lt. William B. Bomar was hit by flak over the center of Hamburg. It lost two engines, was set on fire, and the tail was badly damaged. It went into a spin and exploded at 5,000 feet. Three of the crew died in the explosion. The exploding bombs at Hamburg sent flames thousands of feet in the air. The next day as the Group went to Berlin, the smoke was still boiling up through the clouds at 15,000 feet. Sixteen planes sustained damage. The crew of Lt William B. Bomar was lost on this date.

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 315.2 T

HAMBURG/RHENANIA (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 155.2 T

HAMBURG/RHENANIA-OSSAG (Opportunistic)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 34.7 T

HAMBURG/SCHINDLER (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 72.5 T

HAMBURG/SCHLIEMANNS (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 160.7 T

HANOVER/MISBURG (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-24s is 493rd Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 498 T

KONIGSBERG (Primary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 115.3 T

MAGDEBURG/ROTHENSEE (Primary)

Description: OIL REFINERY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 215.20

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 214 T

PAS-DE-CALAIS (Primary) NOBALL

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Largest number of bombers despatched since D-Day. 1,548 bombers are dispatched against 14 targets in Germany and V-Weapon sites in France (Largest 8 AF attack on Germany to date). 457th BG - MISSION NO. 72 - WATTON, FRANCE 20 JUNE, 1944 The afternoon mission of 20 June was to Watton, a repeat of Mission Nos. 15 and 20, a No Ball installation constructed along the French Coast. Twelve bombers were committed to the mission. Captain Wilbur D. Snow was Air Commander with Lt. Jonathan Herbold as pilot. There was no Division assembly and the Wing flew alone across the Channel. The primary target was completely covered with an undercast and a target of opportunity, Poperinghe Airfield, was bombed. It was a grass covered field with little operational history. Bombs were dropped with minor results. There was no enemy fighter opposition and light flak was encountered.

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..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
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.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 448th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 312 T

POLITZ (Primary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

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.

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 278.4 T

Connections

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

People

1 LT Franklin D Abbott, Jr
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-663450
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33574325
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-758675
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (4Z-V+) nicknamed "Wolves Inc." of the 791st Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '467th B.G., 4Z-V+.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 856th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Big Dick Hard To Hit
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
42-102396
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 325th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group

Revisions

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
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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