833
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.
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.
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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 486th Bomb Group 833rd Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-760834
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot/Element Leader (WWII); Pilot (Transport Command)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 19190377
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38569129
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hula Girl, Maid To Order
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Madame queen
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lady Vivian
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Heavenly Body
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lady Luck
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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'.