8th Air Force 174

4 January 1944

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.

Mission Details

KIEL (Primary)

Description: PORT AREA

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: 34 B-24s drop on Targets of Opportunity around Kiel, Germany. Bomber Gunner claims are recorded on this entry for statistical purposes. The totals are combined for all Air Divisions that attacked Kiel on this date.

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 253.00
  • People killed in action: 41
  • People wounded in action: 13
  • People evaded: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 20
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 12
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 130
  • Aircraft effective: 115
  • Aircraft missing in action: 6
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 16

KIEL(Primary)

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 365.00
  • People killed in action: 15
  • People wounded in action: 6
  • Prisoners of war: 27
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 176
  • Aircraft effective: 166
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 29

KIEL(Primary)

Description: PORT AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 7 B-17s drop on Targets of Opportunity around Kiel, Germany.

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 451.00
  • People killed in action: 27
  • People wounded in action: 34
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 38
  • People returned to duty: 8
  • Aircraft sent: 263
  • Aircraft effective: 205
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 82

Münster, Germany

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 192.00
  • People killed in action: 17
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 75
  • Aircraft effective: 68
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 35

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: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-686181
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34700544
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-425646
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36276991
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Waist Gunner / Nose Gunner / Togglier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Check
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cased Ace
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stella
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kathy Jane
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Removed Note to Viewers and transferred it to 8th AF PHOTO RECCE operation of 2-Jan-44.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Removed Note to Viewers and transferred it to 8th AF PHOTO RECCE operation of 2-Jan-44.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Dec-2015. Changed title to 8th AF mission, per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey, MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Feb-2015. Added Note referencing mission designation changes from VIII Bomber Command to 8th Air Force.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Feb-2015. Completed entry and Bomber Gunner statistics based on "The Mighty 8th War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2015. Defined Kiel and Munster elements per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2015. NOTE to VIEWERS added per Mr. Lee Cunningham.

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'.