Description

The port area of Kiel, Germany and the railroad marshalling yards at Munster, Germany are the Primary targets of this Mission which is organised as two elements: one going to Kiel and the other to Munster. Roger A. Freeman begins to designate aircraft despatched by Bomb Division rather than by individual Bomb Groups as follows:

Kiel Element - Bomb Groups participating

1BD = 91BG, 92BG, 303BG, 305BG, 306BG, 351BG, 379BG, 381BG and 384BG

2BD = 44BG, 93BG, 389BG, 392BG, 445BG, 446BG and 448BG

3BD = 94BG, 95BG, 100BG, 385BG, 390BG and 447BG

Kiel Element - Aircraft despatched - total 569 despatched - 486 effective as follows:

1BD = 263 B-17s despatched - 205 effective

2BD = 176 B-24s despatched - 166 effective

3BD = 130 B-17s despatched - 115 effective

Munster Element - Bomb Groups participating

3BD = 96BG and 388BG

Munster Element -Aircraft despatched - total despatched 75 - 68 effective.

NOTE: Some sources claim that this was the last bombing mission flown under the VIII Bomber Command designation and some claim that it was the first mission flown by bombers under the 8th Air Force designation. The official designation of 8th Air Force as an autonomous unit of the of the United States Army Air Forces will come on 22-Feb-44, but mission designation as "8th Air Force" begins 1-Jan-44.