896

19 March 1945
media-20506.png UPL 20506 Major Harry Lee Downing, Duxford, England.

Added individual photo

Object Number - UPL 20506 - Major Harry Lee Downing, Duxford, England.

Official Description

1,273 bombers and 675 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and industrial targets in Germany visually and with H2X radar; clouds force 2 of the 3 forces to hit secondaries; 100+ Luftwaffe fighters including 36 Me 262s in formation (largest number of jets seen as a unit) are encountered; the AAF claims 41-3-19 Luftwaffe aircraft (including 3 Me 262s); 6 bombers and 10 fighters are lost:



1. Cloud cover prevents 496 B-17s from hitting the primary targets; secondaries hit are the optical works at Jena (197) and the motor vehicle plant at Zwickau (177); targets of opportunity are Plauen (32), the marshalling yards at Fulda (44) and Saalfeld (10) and other (4); bombing is by H2X radar with some visual attacks; they claim 1-1-2 aircraft; 4 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 49 MIA. Escorting are 183 of 198 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost.



2. Cloud cover forces 404 of 436 B-17s to hit the industrial area at Plauen, the secondary target using H2X radar; targets of opportunity, bombed visually, are the Fulda marshalling yard (20) and Prissig (1); 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 9 MIA. The escort is 141 of 153 P-51s.



3. 341 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Neuburg (125) and Leipheim (84) and jet aircraft plant at Baumenheim (126) visually; 1 B-24 is lost; 11 airmen are MIA. 175 of 194 P-51s escort; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft without loss.



4. 95 of 98 P-51s fly a freelance sweep for the bombers; they claim 33-2-14 aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost.



5. 2 of 4 P-51s escort 15 F-5s and 2 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany.





Mission Details

Airfields and Industrial targets, Germany

Description: All Bomb Groups of the 8th Air Force are sent to Germany to attack airfields and industrial targets.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3,143.4
  • People killed in action: 18
  • People wounded in action: 8
  • People missing in action: 69
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 1
  • Aircraft effective: 1
  • Aircraft missing in action: 6
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 6
  • Aircraft damaged: 125

Böhlen (Primary) / Not Yet Known (Secondary) / Plauen (Tertiary) / Fulda (Opportunistic) / Prissig (Opportunistic)

Description: The Primary target for the mission was the Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant in Bohlen Germany. Before the mission crews were briefed that they should only bomb visually, however when they arrived over Bohlen, they found the target covered with cloud. The situation was the same at the Secondary target of the mission (location unknown). Crews ultimately bombed the Tertiary target of Plauen using H2X Pathfinder equipment to provide visual assistance. Other targets of opportunity were bombed visually.

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 9
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People missing in action: 9
  • Aircraft sent: 436
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 4

Plauen vehicle industry

Description: The Tertiary target of Vomag Maschinenfabrik in Plauen was bombed using a the visual assistance of H2X pathfinder equipment

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The 384th Bomb Group were the only unit in the 1st Air Division to suffer a loss during this mission. B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43‑39035) flown by Second Lieutenant Robert Griffin and his crew crashed near Reigate, England while returning to base due to pilot error. The nine men on board were all killed in the crash.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1,007.4
  • People killed in action: 9
  • Aircraft effective: 404
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Fulda Marshalling Yard / Prissig

Description: 20 aircraft bomb the railway marshaling yards at Fulda visually as a Target of Opportunity with 48.8 tons of bombs. 1 aircraft bombs Prissig as a Target of Opportunity with 2.5 tons of bombs.

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes:

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 51.3
  • Aircraft effective: 21

Neuburg (Primary) / Leipheim (Primary) / Baumenheim, (Primary)

Description: The 2nd Air Division were the only Bomb Division to carry out visual bombing of their Primary targets. 341 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Neuburg and Leipheim, and the jet aircraft plant at Baumenheim visually; 1 B-24 is lost; 11 airmen are MIA. 175 of 194 P-51s escort; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft without loss.

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • People missing in action: 11
  • Aircraft sent: 341
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Neuburg airfield

Description: 125 B-24s attack the airfield at Neuburg

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: 44th Bomb Group Mission report: Jet Plane assembly factory at Neuberg, Germany was attacked today. Capt. Brownlowe, 67th, was credited with a Group lead, Wing and Division with the total of 33 of the 44th's aircraft. Our formation flew the briefed route until reaching the IP, where a thick haze was encountered, forcing the formation to drop 1,500 feet to get under it. All aircraft reached the objective and all bombs were released on the Primary with excellent results. Enemy opposition was nil, while our fighters furnished very good support. Five of the Group's aircraft landed on the continent . One of the 66th aircraft is MIA for unknown reasons.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 284.3
  • Aircraft effective: 125

Leipheim airifeld

Description: 84 B-24s bomb the airfield at Leipheim

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 189.5
  • Aircraft effective: 84

Baumenheim aviation industry

Description: 126 B-24s attack the Aviation Industry at Baumenheim

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 289.2
  • Aircraft effective: 126

Not yet known (Primary) / Zwickau (Secondary) / Jena (Secondary) / Plauen (Opportunistic) / Fulda (Opportunistic) / Saalfeld (Opportunistic) / Not yet known (Opportunistic)

Description: Cloud cover prevents the 496 B-17s from the 3rd Air Division from hitting the primary targets. The 3rd Air Division are forced to use H2X radar and visual sightings to carry out attacks on the secondary targets and targets of opportunity. 197 B-17s hit the optical works at Jena, and 177 hit the motor vehicle plant at Zwickau. The targets of opportunity are: Plauen, the marshalling yards at Fulda, Saalfeld The 3rd Air Division claims 1-1-2 aircraft; 4 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 49 MIA. Escorting are 183 of 198 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost.

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1321.7
  • People killed in action: 9
  • People wounded in action: 5
  • People missing in action: 49
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 496
  • Aircraft effective: 464
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 4
  • Aircraft damaged: 121

Zwickau vehicle industry

Description: 177 B-17s effectively attack motor transport industry at Zwickau

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 493.8
  • Aircraft effective: 177

Jena Optical Works

Description: 197 B-17s effectively attach the optical works at Jena.

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 563.1
  • Aircraft effective: 197

Fighter Escort

Description: Fighters from every fighter Group except the 20th and 56th Fighter Groups are dispatched to Germany to provide escort for bombers attacking airfields and industrial targets.

Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang

Mission Statistics

  • People missing in action: 9
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 40
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 17
  • Aircraft sent: 675
  • Aircraft effective: 623
  • Aircraft missing in action: 10

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: 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: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-705103
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 13th Combat Bomb Wing 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shark Tooth
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird : Voan : Snuffy
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Messenger
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 364th Fighter Group 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Carol Dawn
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37882) of the 95th Bomb Group landing at Colorado in October 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17G-15-DL Denver, Colorada, October 1943.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hard Time : A-Good-Bett : Blues in the Reich
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 296-297

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 296-297

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

From personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner.

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

From the files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary

Date
Contributordwgdallas
Changes
Sources

The personal collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray

Date
Changes
Sources

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

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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