849

26 February 1945
media-23769.jpeg UPL 23769 Strike Photo - Berlin, Germany
26 February 1945

The top of the photo is almost directly due east. To the right are the Rummelsberger See (top) and the River Spree (bottom). The target was the railroad sheds and facilities located just past the head of the Rummeslberger See.
466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Archives

Object Number - UPL 23769 - Strike Photo - Berlin, Germany 26 February 1945 The top of the photo is almost directly due east. To the right are the Rummelsberger See (top)...

Description

Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description



Mission : 1,207 bombers and 726 fighters are dispatched to make H2X radar attacks on three Berlin rail stations; they claim 6-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-17s and 3 P-51s are lost:

1. 377 B-17s are sent to hit the Schlesischer rail station (363); 1 hits Osnabruck, a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 21 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 18 MIA. 214 of 244 P-51s escort claiming 4-0-0 aircraft in the air.



2. 446 B-17s set out to hit the Alexanderplatz rail station (418); 4 others hit a target of opportunity; 1 B-17s is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 43 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 9 MIA. Escorting are 232 of 240 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost (2 pilots MIA).



3. 361 B-24s are dispatched to hit the North rail station (285); 37 hit Eberswalde, the secondary target; 4 hit a target of opportunity; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 26 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 3 MIA. The escort is 20 P-47s and 190 P-51s.



4. 17 B-17s and 6 B-24s fly screening missions.



5. 31 of 32 P-51 fly a scouting mission.



Source: The Eighth Air Force Historical Society - http://www.8thafhs.org/new/incl_missions.php



Source: THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

BERLIN

Description: RAIL STATION

BERLIN/ALEXANDERPLATZ

Description: RAIL STATION

BERLIN/SCHLESISCHER

Description: RAIL STATION

EBERSWALDE

Description: RAILROADS

OSNABRUCK

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: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-770549
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-20558065
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: Serial Number: T5393 / Service Number: 16135585
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • 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: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Damn Yankee
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Dog
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: D-Day Dottie
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pretty Baby
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Aldaflak Section 8
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; p. 281

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; p. 281

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: The Eighth Air Force Historical Society - http://www.8thafhs.org/new/incl_missions.php

Source: THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: 447 Bomb Group Website - http://www.447bg.com

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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