881
11 March 1945
466th BG 466th Bomb Group collection
Chris Brassfield
Object Number - UPL 19234 - Strike Photo - Kiel - 11 March 1945 466th BG
Description
Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
Mission 881: 1,256 bombers and 814 fighters are dispatched to make H2X radar attacks on U-boat yards at Kiel and Bremen and the shipyard and refinery area at Hamburg, Germany; 1 B-17 and 4 P-51s are lost:
1. 344 of 352 B-24s attack the Krupp Germania U-boat yard at Kiel; 2 B-24s are damaged. 232 P-47s and P-51s escort; 1 P-51 is lost.
2. 469 of 485 B-17s hit the Wilhelmsburg oil refinery at Hamburg; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost and 41 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 10 MIA. Escorting are 252 of 265 P-51s; 2 are lost.
3. 406 of 413 B-17s hit the Deschimag U-boat yard at Bremen; 9 B-17s are damaged. 237 of 255 P-51s escort; 1 is lost.
4. 6 B-17s fly a screening mission.
5. 18 P-51s escort 6 F-5s and a Spitfire on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.
6. 27 of 29 P-51s 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
BREMEN
Description: SUBMARINE PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 207 : BREMEN, GERMANY : 11 MARCH, 1945 The submarine and destroyer ship yards at "Little B" were the primary targets. These yards had been attacked seven times by the RAF in the past month and were the target of a PFF bombing by the Eighth Air Force on 24 February. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Lt. Col. Francis as Air Commander. No difficulties were encountered during formation. The route over England was flown approximately as briefed except it was necessary to deviate slightly to the left of course, because the 1st Combat Wing crossed in front of the formation. The Group was in proper position in Division formation. Division assembly line was flown slightly to the left of course, in trail of the Division. The route to the IP was flown approximately as briefed except for slight deviations in course in order to remain in Division formation. There was ten tenths undercast in the target area. Bombing was done in Group formation, by means of PFF equipment. The lead craft performed the sighting operation, with all three squadrons releasing their bombs on the smoke marker of the lead craft. Bombs were dropped from 26,300 feet. Bomb results were unobserved due to cloud coverage. Antiaircraft fire was moderate, but inaccurate, with no aircraft sustaining damage.
HAMBURG/WILHWMSBURG
Description: OIL REFINERY
KIEL/KRUPP GERMANIA
Description: SUBMARINE PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: A mix of 232 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 882.6
- Aircraft sent: 352
- Aircraft effective: 344
- Aircraft damaged: 2
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735233
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer/ Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-779085
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot, Passenger
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dark Angel
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cover Girl
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Morning Star, Tail End Charlie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 290-291
John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner
Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 290-291
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,
Official 385th Bombardment Group website Database of Missions
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'.