785
7 January 1945Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
ACHERN
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
BIELEFELD
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
BITBURG
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 171 : BITBURG, GERMANY : 7 JANUARY, 1945 The highway intersection at Bitburg, where eight highways converge, was the tactical target for the 457th Bomb Group. The 457th comprised the 94th B Combat Wing with Captain Dozier as Air Commander. Assembly was without incident, other than difficulty in getting into Wing formation. Division assembly line was flown approximately as briefed, with the Group in proper position. The route to the IP was flown on time, on course and approximately at briefed altitude. The IP was reached a little right of course because the G-H navigator brought the formation south of course in order to start the bomb run. The route from the IP to the target was flown by means of (i-H navigation, and course varied from the briefed route. The Group bombed the primary target by means of G-H equipment because of ten tenths cloud coverage. Bombs were dropped from 24,900 feet. Bomb results were unobserved due to clouds. Flak was light and none of the craft sustained damage.
BLANKENHEIM
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
COLOGNE/KALK
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
COLOGNE/LUTZEL
Description: RAIL BRIDGE
DURRMENZ
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
EUSKIRCHEN
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
HAMM
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
HOENZOLLERN
Description: RAIL BRIDGE
KAISERSLAUTERN
Description: RAILROAD
KALL
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
KARLSUHE
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
KOBLENZ
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
LANDAU
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
LIMBURG
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
PADERBORN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
RASTATT
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
RODENKIRCHEN
Description: HIGHWAY BRIDGE
ZWEIBRUCKEN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
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: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37679193
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33764121
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32550448
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32941838
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lilly Belle
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 398th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Top O The Mark
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ill Get By
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Silver Queen
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Snuffy
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Correction to Connection to reflect Bomb Divisions redesignation to Air Divisions from 1 Jan 1945.
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'.