8th Air Force 208
4 February 1944
Associated 4 February 1944 bombing mission
Object Number - UPL 34095 - "SHATTERED CHATEAROUX---Typical extensive damage inflicted upon nine Nazi airfields in Northwestern France early in Feb 4 by 8th AF heavy bombers is...
Description
The railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany were focus of this mission, but other railroad marshalling yards in the area were attacked as well. Weather and navigational errors frustrate target acquisition.748 heavy bombers were despatched in a combined force from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions. Mission summary follows:
1st Bomb Division: A combined force of 287 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG; 92BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 482BG. 183 aircraft are effective on Frankfurt. 51 are effective on the railroad marshalling yards at Wiesbaden; Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 1 bombs the railroad marshalling yards at Koblenz, Germany and 21 bomb other TOs. 11 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 29KIA 72POW 10EVD. 3 aircraft with battle damage make crash landings in England and are declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) - 6KIA 25RTD. 16 airmen are WIA in returning aircraft. 138 aircraft are damaged (apportioned in statistics).
2nd Bomb Division: A combined force of 159 B-24s are despatched from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 446BG; 448BG; 492BG. The despatch from 14th Combat Wing (44BG; 392BG; 492BG) aborts the mission because it failed to join the Division because the PFF aircraft faield to take off. 27 aircraft are effective on Frankfurt. 17 bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Trier, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 15 bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Arloff, Germany as a TO; 2 bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Russellheim, Germany as a TO; 1 bombs at Grafenhausen, Germany as a TO; 1 bombs at Darmstadt, Germany as a TO; 1 bombs at Koblenz, Germany as a TO; and 26 others bomb other target of opportunity. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 6KIA 14POW. 4 airmen aboard returning aircraft are WIA. 76 aircraft are damaged (apportioned in statistics)
3rd Bomb Division: A combined force of 302 B-17s are despatched from: 94BG; 95BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; and 447BG. 27 are effective on Frankfurt; 122 are effective on the railroad marshalling yards at Geissen, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 2 others bomb TOs. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 18KIA 47POW 5EVD. 2 airmen in returning aircraft are KIA. 145 aircraft are damaged (apportioned in statistics).
The combined claims of the bomber gunners of all three Air Divisions are 4-0-1 (Statistic reflected in 1BD Frankfurt element)
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Notes: 1 BD Bomb Groups attacking has not been determined.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 68.95
- People wounded in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 21
- Aircraft effective: 21
- Aircraft damaged: 13
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3.13
- Aircraft sent: 2
- Aircraft effective: 2
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 81.48
- Aircraft sent: 26
- Aircraft effective: 26
- Aircraft damaged: 15
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 47.01
- Aircraft sent: 15
- Aircraft effective: 15
- Aircraft damaged: 9
DARMSTADT (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3.13
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
FRANKFURT (Secondary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Joined with 1st Bomb Division in attacking the marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 510.52
- People killed in action: 18
- People wounded in action: 4
- People evaded: 5
- Prisoners of war: 47
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 183
- Aircraft effective: 183
- Aircraft missing in action: 11
- Aircraft damaged: 138
FRANKFURT (Secondary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Weather and navigation problems frustrate target acquisition. This is part of the campaign to destroy transportation assets in preparation for the D-Day invasion. 359 aircraft are damaged (apportionment approximated)
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 573.52
- People killed in action: 40
- People wounded in action: 12
- People evaded: 10
- Prisoners of war: 72
- People returned to duty: 25
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 214
- Aircraft effective: 183
- Aircraft missing in action: 11
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 105
FRANKFURT (Secondary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 44th Bomb Group and 392nd Bomb Group failed to join the Division and abandoned the mission because the Pathfinder (PFF) aircraft had failed to take-off.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 64.62
- People killed in action: 3
- Prisoners of war: 9
- Aircraft sent: 96
- Aircraft effective: 27
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 16
GIESSEN (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 3rd Bomb Division Bomb Groups attacking has not been determined.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 382,35
- Aircraft sent: 122
- Aircraft effective: 122
- Aircraft damaged: 69
GRAFENHAUSEN
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3.13
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
KOBLENZ (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 3rd Bomb Division Bomb Groups attacking has not been determined.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3.13
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
KOBLENZ (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3.13
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 6.27
- People killed in action: 5
- Prisoners of war: 5
- Aircraft sent: 2
- Aircraft effective: 2
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
TRIER (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 53.41
- Aircraft sent: 17
- Aircraft effective: 17
- Aircraft damaged: 10
Wiesbaden, Germany
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: 1 BD Bomb Groups attacking has not been determined.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 159.83
- People wounded in action: 3
- Aircraft sent: 51
- Aircraft effective: 51
- Aircraft damaged: 29
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 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37495234
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665291
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14161785
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-683907
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 10601362
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Queen Jeanie : Damn Yankee II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- 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: 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
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rhapsody in Flak
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Added combined claims of bomber gunners on enemy aircraft to Mission even 6 1BG attack on Frankfurt per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb 2016. Added Bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Corrected number of aircraft despatched on Mission Event #2 per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Corrected number of aircraft despatched on event #1 per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman analysis of Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) and Losses of 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'.