501
28 July 1944
Image reloaded to correct orientation. Original upload from user https://www.americanairmuseum.com/user/7842.
From Donald Muckerman's records kept during his time in England during WWII.
Object Number - UPL 39016 - Mission list kept by 2nd Lt. Donald Muckerman of the 8th Airforce, 305th Bomb Group, 422nd Squadron (front)
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 20 T
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: Recalled because of weather. 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, 489th Bomb Group, 491 Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
BRUSSELS VILVORDE (Primary)
Description: FUEL DUMPS, SUPPLY SITES AND A BRIDGE
Notes: Recalled because of weather. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-24s is 34th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group, 493rd 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.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408505.jpg.webp?itok=zJwHCUjh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
LEIPZIG/TAUCHA (Opportunistic)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 90 T
MERSEBURG/LEUNA (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
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. Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 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. ___________________________________________________________________________ The 1st and 3rd Air Divisions were sent to attack a synthetic oil refinery of I. G. Farbenindustrie in the Merseburg-Leuna area. The 388th Bomb Group furnished two Groups, the lead and low Groups in the 45th B Combat Wing. 18 aircraft plus 2 PFF a/c of the A Group and 20 aircraft of the B Group took-off between 0500 and 0527 hours. 3 aircraft in the A Group aborted 2 for mechanical reasons and one because he could not locate the formation. After forming, the Groups flew East diagonally across Europe on a briefed flak-free course to the IP, where the course was changed to a East-West for the bomb run. Two sharp right turns were made at the target and RP and the same route was followed on the return to base. Due to cloudy conditions at the target, PFF methods were used with bombs away at 0941 hours from 24,000 feet. The bombs in one aircraft of the B Group hung-up and had to be jettisoned South of the target at the RP. One ME 410 was observed in the target area but did not attack. Meager flak was encountered at Koblenz and Kassel with accurate heavy flak at the target. 25 aircraft suffered minor damage and 1 aircraft major damage. Sgt. E. R. Finn was wounded. All aircraft returned to base by 1358 hours. Battle damage to our aircraft. Number of flak holes per aircraft . (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger ). The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three groups of the 41st "C" Combat Bombardment Wing on today's mission. Last attacked on 12 May 1944, this synthetic oil and chemical plant had returned to 75% of capacity. The attack was carried out by PFF means. ___________________________________________________________________________
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- 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: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1601.5 T
- Aircraft sent: 45
- Aircraft effective: 36
WIESBADEN (Opportunistic)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 43 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: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36743988
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- 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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18216616
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Gallopin Ghost
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Down N Go
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Double Wallop
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd 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
Revisions
Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger).
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'.
