702
5 November 1944
Elmo Maiden Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B), Gustave J. Roussel (E), Guerino G. Petti (N), Herbert Rosenkoff (CP), William A. Thomason (TT), Elmo Maiden (P), Kenneth W. Chester (NG), Joseph R. Zebrowski (R/O)
B-24J-5-DT #42-51532 Code: U8-W
Photo taken on 27 December 1944 after crash landing at an airfield in Belgium.
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
Object Number - UPL 6521 - Crew #664 Elmo Maiden Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B),...
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
FRANKFURT
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: A mix of 206 P-47s and P-51s provided escort. Mix not given in available data. 457th BG MISSION NO. 144: FRANKFURT, GERMANY, 5 NOVEMBER 1944 The disruption of Germany's transportation system was the focus of attack for the mission. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Major Syptak as Air Commander, and Lt. Charles E. Barrier as pilot. The Group assumed its proper position in the Division assembly and began its route to Germany. Because of winds being diflerent from those briefed, the formation was three minutes late in reaching the IP. Ten-tenths clouds existed in the target area and the bomb run was made by means of PFF equipment" The 45Tth bombed in Group formation. All three squadrons released their bombs on the smoke markers from the lead airmaft with fair to good results. The lead squadron dropped from 26,000 feet. Flak was moderate but accurate with eleven aircraft being damaged.

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
HANAU
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
KAISERSLAUTERN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
KARLSRUHE
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: A mix of 228 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 81.40
- People killed in action: 3
- People wounded in action: 6
- Aircraft effective: 25
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 13
LANDAU
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
LUDWIGSHAVEN
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
LUDWIGSHAVEN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: A mix of 192 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
Connections
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People
- 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 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-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: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st 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: Dynamite John
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th 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/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: The Challenger
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom
page 196
466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No 137 Karlsruhe, Germany - 5 November 1944
NARA research by Brad Sullivan
466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No 137 Karlsruhe, Germany - 5 November 1944
NARA research by Brad Sullivan
"Attlebridge Diaries" - John Woolnough
Pages 116, 117, 205
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'.