503
29 July 1944
Associated missions
Object Number - UPL 38797 - The Military Service Record for Philip G. Rodgers Showing His Completion Of 30 Missions As Well As The Awards He Received
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 24.4 T
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 6 T
BREMEN/OSLEBSHAUSEN (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
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, 489th Bomb Group, 491 Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1249.4 T
CUXHAVEN (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2.5 T
GOTTINGEN (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3.5 T
HILDESHEIM (Opportunistic)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 24.5 T
JUVINCOURT (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 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.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 104.5 T
LAON/COUVRON (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 103.3 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. 3rd 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. ___________________________________________________________________________ For the second consecutive day, 1st and 3rd Air Division forces were dispatched to the I. G. Farbenindustrie synthetic oil plant at Leuna. The 388th Bomb Group flew high Group on both the 45th "A" and "B" Combat Wings. The "A" Group had 20 aircraft airborne between 0535 and 0554 hours. In the "B" Group, 19 aircraft were airborne between 0520 and 0532 hours. All aircraft of the "A" Group attacked the Target, while two aborted from the "B" Group for mechanical reasons. After forming, the Groups flew Southeasterly across Germany to the IP, where a turn was made to a west-east bomb run. Clouds covered the Target but black smoke in the Target area indicated direct hits. In the vicinity of the RP, the "A" Group was attacked by 30-50 Me 109's and 8-12 FW 190's. Only one pass was made before our escort intercepted. Lt. Boyce in aircraft 42-39866, was attacked by 3 Me 109's from the rear, setting fire to the two inboard engines. When the fire broke out, he peeled off and went into a dive and disappeared into the clouds at 14,000 feet. The co-pilot and navigator were able to bail-out and landed into a Barley Field, and were captured immediately. The Germans at a near-by air base said that seven bodies were in the burned aircraft. After this five minute attack, the Groups followed the same route home as on the way to the Target. Bombs were away at 1006 hours from 26,000 feet. The "B" Group made its own sighting and did not bomb with the Wing. 36 aircraft returned to the base by 1354 hours. The only flak encountered was at the Target and was intense and accurate. 2 aircraft had major battle damage and 21 aircraft had minor damage. Sgt. G. J. Mead was wounded and one crew is missing. Claims are two Me 109's destroyed. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger). ___________________________________________________________________________
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1410 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: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13062144 and O-800503
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32002585 at enlistment, then O-744978
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11073255
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11070143
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12120957 & O-818861
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss Aldaflak Section 8
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cover Girl
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Belle of the brawl
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Boomerang
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Old 66 / Lady Margaret
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st 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).
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'.