881

11 March 1945
media-19234.jpeg UPL 19234 Strike Photo - Kiel - 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.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 882.6
  • Aircraft sent: 352
  • Aircraft effective: 344
  • Aircraft damaged: 2

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: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 2065046
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2062494
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-828162
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-828170
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Chute The Works
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shade Ruff #2
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
French prisoners of war await transport home in a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97931) nicknamed "Madame Queen" of the 401st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'French POW's flown back to France after war. IN-Q then IW-A "Madame Queen".'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Madame queen
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 290-291

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 290-291

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
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Official 385th Bombardment Group website Database-Missions

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Official 385th Bombardment Group website Database-Missions

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Official 385th Bombardment Group website Database of Missions

Date
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

The Mighty Eighth War Diary - Roger Freeman

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

The Mighty Eighth War Diary - Roger Freeman

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'.

881: Gallery (3 items)