626
12 September 1944
According to 351st BG Association, the crew of this mission was: D. Hadley (P), T. Maki (CP), Z. Hites (N), G. Hotchkin (B), E. Rhodes (TTG), E. Wasinger (RO), M. Griffin (WG), R. Lantrip (BTG), A. Grantham (TG), all from 511th BS.
Mission was 351st #204: target of opportunity; Plauen, Germany (marshalling yard). The first combat mission (#148 June 14th -44) flown with this aircraft was with pilot Einer Petersen of 509th BS, later killed in an emergency landing in Sweden with aircraft #42-31192 (YB-R) of 508th BS. The pictured aircraft lasted 31 missions.
Removed associations not depicted in image
Object Number - UPL 6822 - Belgian civilians surround B-17 (DS-K, serial number 44-6139) of the 509th Bomb Squadron of the 351st Bomb Group, near Namur, Belgium. According to...
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 18.1 T
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 52.R T
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 6.7 T
BOHLEN (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 82.7 T
BRUX (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Notes: The three segments of this mission are intercepted by 400-500 German Luftwaffe aircraft. The targets are all sighted using PATHFINDER (PFF) methods. Another tough day for both sides: 31 B-17s & 4 B-24s MIA, but bomber gunners have a good score of 27-14-12 Luftwaffe fighters. The fighter escort has another excellent score of 54-2-8 in the air with another 26-0-15 on the ground. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 303rd BG, 305th BG, 306th BG, 351 BG, 379th BG, 381st BG, 384th BG, 385th BG,389th BG, 457th BG, 486th BG. 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group & 401st Bomb Group stand down.

- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 189.7 T
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 22.5 T
FULDA (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 110 T
HANNOVER (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 29 T
HEMMINGSTEDT (Opportunistic)
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 8.5 T
HEMMINGSTEDT (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th BG, 92nd BG, 93rd BG, 385th BG, 445th BG,446th BG, 489th BG, 491 BG, 492nd BG. 389th BG, 453rd BG, 458th BG, 466th Bomb Group & 467th Bomb Group stand down.

- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 165 T
KARLSBAD (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 27.5 T
KIEL (Primary)
Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 149.5 T
KITZINGEN (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 27.5 T
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 106.7 T
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 119.5 T
MAGDEBURG/FRIEDRICHSTADT (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 167.9 T
MAGDEBURG/ROTHENSEE (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 44th BG, 94th BG, 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group, 100th BG, 385th BG, 388th BG, 390th BG, 447th BG, 486th BG, 490th BG, 493rd BG. 452nd Bomb Group stands down
![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/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-408505.jpg?itok=Hi-SN9sg)
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 329.5 T
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 89.5 T
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 26 T
NORTHEIM (Opportunistic)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 36 T
PLAUEN (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 82.5 T
RUHLAND (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 142.5 T
Connections
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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: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38420299
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16116296 at enlistment, then O-706780
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-761858
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 863rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37344490
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator,
Aircraft
![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/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379271.jpg?itok=Vpnj4LSB)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El's Belles
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hale's Angels
- Unit: 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Doodle Bug
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lazy Daisy
- Unit: 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Worry Bird : Voan : Snuffy
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Personal Friend
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'.