8th Air Force 174
4 January 1944Description
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.
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
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.
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: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35309221
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746733
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32534117
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16019686
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner/Waist Gunner/Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-742000
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Eight Ball : 8 Ball : Flak Hack
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron 571st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: T'aint A Bird II
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ten Knights in a Bar Room
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell's Angels
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Short Stride IV
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Removed Note to Viewers and transferred it to 8th AF PHOTO RECCE operation of 2-Jan-44.
Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2016. Removed Note to Viewers and transferred it to 8th AF PHOTO RECCE operation of 2-Jan-44.
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.
Lee Cunningham 9-Feb-2015. Added Note referencing mission designation changes from VIII Bomber Command to 8th Air Force.
Lee Cunningham 9-Feb-2015. Completed entry and Bomber Gunner statistics based on "The Mighty 8th War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2015. Defined Kiel and Munster elements per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2015. NOTE to VIEWERS added per Mr. Lee Cunningham.
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'.