425
20 June 1944
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
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.
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
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.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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.
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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-813458
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-749187
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35733061
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El Lobo
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
- Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Swiss Miss
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
![An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379271.jpg.webp?itok=QwML6lTh)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El's Belles
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Paisano
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
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'.