8th Air Force 198
29 January 1944
12 1944-01-27 Aircraft: B-17G (#42-31023).
Organization: 339BS / 96BG of Snetterton Heath, Norfolk.
......Pilot: Lemanski, Richard F.........
Notes: crash landing.
Location: Troston, Suffolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ Roger Freeman Collection
Valerie Lemanski Holley Collection
Object Number - FRE 3958 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (QJ-Q, serial number 42-31023) nicknamed "Skyball" of the 339th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group that has crash-landed at...
Description
The primary target for this mission was the railroad marshalling yards and industrial areas of Frankfurt, Germany. A combined force of 863 heavy bombers were despatched in three elements to make the attack. The combined bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft were 75-27-48 and are listed under 3BD totals. Mission Summary as follows:
3rd Bomb Division: A combined force 309 B-17s are despatched from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG, 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG and 447BG. 291 are effective on the target. One formation in this element bombed at Ludwigshaven, Germany, due to an error in navigation with the loss of 11 aircraft because it lacked the fighter protection assigned to the main force. One group also failed to see the PFF flares and dropped 11 minutes late. 11 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 48KIA 51POW 11EVD. 1 aircraft crashed on take-off - 7KOM 3 INJ. 1 aircraft was originally thought to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) but it was eventually repaired 2KIA 8RTD. 34 aircraft were damaged. 6 airmen were WIA aboard returning aircraft.
1st Bomb Division: A combined force of 366 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 401BG and 482BG. The contingent from 482BG (5 aircraft) dropped 2,600,000 leaflets on Frankfurt. 345 aircraft were effective on the target. 13 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 56KIA 59POW 15EVD. 1 Aircraft with battle damage crash landed at Bredgar, UK and listed as Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) - 1KIA 9RTD. 82 aircraft were damaged. 4 other airmen were KIA and 12 were WIA aboard returning aircraft.
2nd Bomb Division: A combined force of 188 B-24s were despatched from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; and 448BG. 170 aircraft were effective on the target. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 23KIA 21POW 6EVD. 1 battle damaged aircraft crashlanded at RAF Detling and was listed as Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) - 10RTD. 2 other aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with eachother during assembly - 17KOM 4RTD. 19 aircraft were damaged. 6 airmen were KIA and 14WIA aboard returning aircraft.
Mission Details
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This is the 3rd Bomb Division complement despatched to attack Frankfurt, Germany
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 576.24
- People killed in action: 57
- People wounded in action: 6
- People evaded: 11
- Prisoners of war: 51
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 75
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 27
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 48
- Aircraft sent: 309
- Aircraft effective: 291
- Aircraft missing in action: 11
- Aircraft damaged: 34
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This is the 1st Bomb Division complement despatched to attack Frankfurt, Germany. This is the first 8th Air Force mission to dispatch more than 800 aircraft.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 811.44
- People killed in action: 57
- People wounded in action: 12
- People evaded: 15
- Prisoners of war: 59
- People returned to duty: 9
- Aircraft sent: 366
- Aircraft effective: 345
- Aircraft missing in action: 13
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 82
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 388.84
- People killed in action: 40
- People wounded in action: 14
- People evaded: 6
- Prisoners of war: 21
- People returned to duty: 14
- Aircraft sent: 188
- Aircraft effective: 170
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 19
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 108.19
- People killed in action: 48
- Prisoners of war: 51
- People returned to duty: 11
- Aircraft sent: 46
- Aircraft effective: 46
- Aircraft missing in action: 11
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: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809494
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665266
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18044163
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735966
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32250471
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Situation Normal
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Patches
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Destinys Tot : Angel Pumpkin
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 2 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Darlin' Dolly
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Red
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added # aircraft damaged to the Detailed Description of all three Air Divisions per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added # aircraft damaged to the Detailed Description of all three Air Divisions per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added # aircraft damaged to the Detailed Description of all three Air Divisions per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 14-Jan-2016. Added # aircraft damaged to the Detailed Description of all three Air Divisions per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 13-Jan-2016. Corrected statistics per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 13-Jan-2016. Corrected statistics per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 13-Jan-2016. Corrected statistics per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 13-Jan-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman; casualty totals based on MACR information and "Losses fo the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
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'.
