Description

This mission consists of five elements: The first element is a combined force of 131 B-17s are despatched by 1st Bomb Division: 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; 384BG; and 482BG to bomb the shipyards and industrial areas of Kiel, Germany. 119 are effective on the target. 5 aircraft are lost to enemy action - 17KIA 23POW 10INT. 1 B-17 from 303BG/360BS and 1 B-17 from 379BG/526BS sustain a mid-air collision during assembly - 20KIA. 3 other B-17s were involved in take-off crashes - 15KIA 15RTD. 61 aircraft were damaged; 5 airmen were WIA.

The second element is a combined force of 114 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG and 448BG depatched to also attacked the shipyards and industrial areas at Kiel, Germany. 96 aircraft are effective on the target. 5 aircraft were lost to enemy action - 41KIA 9POW; 1 aircraft was abandoned over England shortly after take-off with mechanical failures of rudder cables and landing gear - 3KOM 7RTD; another aircraft aborted the mission and returned with a full bomb load to base;this aircraft landed too far down the runway and ran off the end - 10RTD. 15 aircraft were damaged.

The bomber gunners of the two elements that went to Kiel claim 41-6-13 of attacking enemy aircraft.

The third element is a combined force of 117 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division: 94BG; 96BG; 385BG; 388BG; and 447BG despatched to bomb the German airfield of Merignac at Bordeaux, France. 112 aircraft are effective on the target. 11 aircraft are lost to enemy action - 37KIA 30POW 40EVD 3INT. 1 aircraft crashed on take-off - 10KOM; 1 aircraft with battle damage crashed on return at Badwell Ash, UK - 8KIA 1WIA. 49 aircraft were damaged and 20 additional airmen were WIA. The bomber gunners claim 50-10-9 of attacking German fighters.

The fourth element is a combined force of 79 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division; 91BG; 351BG; 381BG; and 401BG despatched to bomb the German airfield at Tours, France. 78 aircraft are effective on the target. 1 aircraft is lost to enemy action - 1KIA 6POW 3EVD. No other aircraft are damaged and no other airmen are wounded. The bomber gunners of this element claim 2-0-0 of attacking enemy aircraft.

The fifth, and last, element of this mission is a combined force of 78 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division: 95BG; 100BG; and 390BG. The ball bearing plants at Elberfield, Germany were the primary target for this mission, but the target was obscured by clouds so the following military targets of opportunity were attacked: Neuss; Geilenkirchen; Dusseldorf and Wassenburg, Germany (number of aircraft attacking each target not determined from source data). 2 aircraft from 95BG are lost to enemy action - 1KIA 16POW (2DIC) 1EVD; 1 aircraft with battle damage crash landed at RAF Tarrent Rushton - 1 airman slightly injured 10RTD. 22 aircraft were damaged and 2 airmen were WIA. The bomber gunners of this element claim 2-5-2 of attacking enemy aircraft.