883

12 March 1945
media-35192.jpeg UPL 35192

Owner of source material

Object Number - UPL 35192

Description

Heavies Hit Near Rhine, Along Baltic



Well over 3,500 heavy bombers and fighters of the 8th and 15th Air Force and the RAF roared over Germany yesterday in attacks that shook the Reich from the Rhine to the Oder and south to Vienna,



The Tremendous blow, spearheaded by the 8th in an assault that spreadeagled both Eastern and Western fronts, gave direct aid to the U.S. and Russian troops battling on both approaches to the heart of Germany.



Half the forces of 1,350 Fortresses and Liberators and 750 escorting fighters split to attack naval and military installations at the Baltic port of Swinemunde. 35 miles north of Stettin, and marshalling yards at six towns in an area about 60 miles long parallel to the Rhine and 40 to 60 miles east of the river opposite Cologne and Coblenz.



RAF Smashes Dortmund



While the 8th was blasting its string of targets in the Rhineland, more than 1,000 Halifaxes and Lancasters of the RAF, protected by a screen of Spitfires and Mustangs, struck 40 miles to the north, bombing the communications center of Dortmund, 15 miles east of Essen, which was still smoking from the RAF's raid the previous day.



The 15th's effort, fashioned by Forts and Libs and a strong shield of fighters, was directed at oil installations in the Vienna area.



The attack on Swinemunde was the closest blow to the Eastern Front the 8th has yet delivered. It fell only 16 miles from where Marshall Zhukov's forces are striking for Baltic port of Stettin. Plans for the attack were laid after photo reconnaissance three days ago showed the one-time seaside resort on the Oder estuary teeming with activity.



Clouds Obstruct View



Specific targets attacked were not disclosed and results were not observed because of heavy cloud. But the port is known to be a strong naval base, with shipyards and oil storage depots, and a likely base for the pocket battleship Adm. Sheers and U-boats which may have left the East Baltic.



The marshalling yards opposite the Rhine were at Siegen, Betzdorf, Dillenburg, Wetzler, Friedburg and Marburg. Here, too, as over Swinemunde, there was heavy cloud. Bombardiers used instruments over the targets.



One bomber and three fighters failed to return.



Last night, German radio broke out with ringing Achtungs, describing a strong force of fast enemy bombers approaching the Hanover-Brunswick area_"bomb alley" to Berlin_ indicating that Mosquitoes were out to hit the capital for the 21st successive night.

Mission Details

BETZDORF

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

DILLENBURG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

FRANKFURT

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

FRIEDBERG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: A nix of 192 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.

HUSUM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MARBURG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

SIEGEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

SWINEMUNDE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS & PORT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

WETZLAR

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Connections

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People

  • 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: 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: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-828170
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2015293
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • 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

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shade Ruff #2
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
Factory fresh B-17s
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Aw Come On
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th 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
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Alex
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pauline
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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Newspaper article

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Owner of source material (newapaper) corresponding with date of mission

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fixed errors

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owner of source material (newspaper)

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ContributorVirginiawise50
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Official 385th Bombardment Group website Database-Missions

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ContributorVirginiawise50
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Official 385th Bombardment Group website Database-Missions

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Contributorjjaustin0308
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My Grandfather flew in this Mission on 12 Mar 1945:
http://www.351st.org/loadlist/search.php

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ContributorAAM
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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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