833

16 February 1945
media-17088.png UPL 17088 Strike photo - Dortmund 16 February 1945.
Official USAAF caption : "A towering column of smoke marks the site of new oil refinery at Dortmund, Germany which was attacked for the first time on Feb. 16 1945, by the U.S. 8th AF. Against the shadow of the smoke column may be seen other bombs falling directly toward it."
Dortmund. Photographs, to some extent obscured by smoke and haze, taken
on the 16th February after the 8th Air Force attack earlier in the day, show
considerable damage centered round the power station and coking plant of
Hoesch A.G.
The chemical installations of the Minster-Stein coke oven plant were also
hit during this attack and were still on fire some two hours afterwards. Both
batteries of coke-ovens have suffered heavily and will probably be incapable of
operation for at least a month. There is considerable residential damage in the
vicinity of this plant.

Additional info on the mission from : http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-66-62-wp-45-106… (page 61)

Object Number - UPL 17088 - Strike photo - Dortmund 16 February 1945. Official USAAF caption : "A towering column of smoke marks the site of new oil refinery at Dortmund,...

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

BURGSTEINFURT

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

DORTMUND/HARPENERWEG

Description: OIL REFINERY

HAMM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

LANGENDREER

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Mission 280 Flown on 2/16/1945, 8th AF/379th BG/ A. Edwards Crew Mission City: Langendreer Country: Germany Mission Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Aircraft: 44-6459 Alfred E Edwards Jr, Lester W Bohne, Billy C. Hulsey, Vernon T. Calhoun, Wallace I Pfieffer, Janel D Hamilton , William H Melvin Jr., Harry G Chaoona, Michael Rusnak.

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 8th Air Force.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Command
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

MEPPEN

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: OIL REFINERY

MUNSTER

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

NORDSTERN

Description: OIL REFINERY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 188 : GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY : 16 FEBRUARY, 1945 The synthetic benzol producing refineries at Gelsenkirchen were the targets. The Group supplied the 94th A Combat Wing lead and low boxes with Lt. Col. Francis as Air Commander. The 351st Bomb Group comprised the high box. Wing assembly was without difficulty. The Group was in proper position in Division column and flew the Division assembly line 1500 feet above briefed altitude in order to avoid clouds. Course from the end of the Division assembly line to the IF was flown as briefed, except it was necessary for the Group to go 1,000 feet above briefed altitude in order to avoid dense, persistent contrails. The IP was reached on course. The Group made a run on the primary target, in squadron formation. It was necessary to bomb by G-FI equipment because dense, persistent contrails produced by aircraft of the preceding formation, and fog, made it impossible to perform a visual sighting operation. Cloud coverage was about four tenths, and visibility was extremely poor. The Group was about 1,000 feet above briefed altitude because of contrails and bombs were dropped from 27,000 feet. Bomb results of the lead squadron were fair; no photos were available from the low squadron. Flak was moderate but accurate. The craft piloted by Lt. Roland H. Brazier, deputy lead of the low box, was hit in No. 3 engine. The right wing folded and broke off, the plane rolled over, went into a flat spin and was on fire. Six of the crewmen did not survive. Because of weather conditions, the Group landed at another base.

Danish civillians inspect the wreckage of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107082) of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'St Heddinge 13th May 1944 at 18:30 Hrs. 8th AAF, 1st Air Division, 41st Combat Wing, 379th Bombardment Group, Squadron?.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

OSNABRUCK

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

OSNABRUCK

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

RHEINE

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

RHEINE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

SALZBERGEN

Description: OIL REFINERY

WESEL

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12077778
  • 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: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-777097
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12177287
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Togglier

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. Written on slide casing: 'SOL, Azon a/c.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Spotted Ass Ape : Dixie Belle II : Wonder Bread
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (4Z-V+) nicknamed "Wolves Inc." of the 791st Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '467th B.G., 4Z-V+.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Yankee Buzz Bomb
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: D-Day Dottie
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-10706) nicknamed "Miss Bea Havin'" of the 388th Bomb Group flies over countryside. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Miss Bea Havin 2107062 M, 562 BS.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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'.

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