836

20 February 1945
media-35158.jpeg UPL 35158 Mission #4 for Pilot Lt. Frank Calicura and crew.

owner of original newspaper copy

Object Number - UPL 35158 - Mission #4 for Pilot Lt. Frank Calicura and crew.

Description

"Continuing their offensive against the Nazi communications, 900 Fortresses of the 8th Air Force, attacking in two giant waves, thundered over Nuremberg yesterday to shower the cities huge railway yards and locomotive repair shops with more than 11,000 high explosive bombs and some 300,000 incendiaries"....



"The bombers had a protective screen of more than 700 mustangs and Thunderbolts, some of which strafed rail lines in the Hanover, Stuttgart, and Nuremberg areas. The 55th Mustang Group, which disabled 81 locomotives Monday, shot up another 89 yesterday"



"The raiding force met only minor air opposition".

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Description: MISSION ABORTED

Notes: Weather causes the mission to be abandoned over Belgium

NURNBERG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

NURNBERG-STRAUBING

Description: FIGHTER STRAFING

Notes: A mix of 194 P-47s and P-51s strafe rail and road targets. Mix not given in available data.

SCHILTACH

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

STEIG

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32931560
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35900479
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Togglier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19163446 / O-780619
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37202047
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16116799
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Engineer, Top Turret gunner

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (DT-J, serial number 43-37971) of the 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group at Grafton Underwood, January 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Jan, 1945. 384BG, 545BS. Source - Gus Radloff, Grafton Underwood, B-17. P11 March Flypast. P. 4.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lorraine
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38067) nicknamed "Big Chief Illinwek" of the 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '338067.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Joyride : Big Chief Illiniwek
  • Unit: 412th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tagalong, Duke's Mixture
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Flak Evader
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

made changes to text error

Date
Changes
Sources

newspaper article in personal collection

Date
Changes
Date
Contributorbkhougham
Changes
Sources

My father was Henry Wynia, the bombardier. I found this information along with the plane's name, Pale Ale, in his WWII military papers.

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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