8th Air Force 218

11 February 1944
A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress on the 4 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.' Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. media-413520.jpg FRE 4836 A bomber crew of the 527th Bomb Squadron of 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress 42-37805 FO-B “Carol Dawn” on 11 February 1944. The crew is possibly that of Second Lieutenant Glen R. Hufnail. Most of the crew in this photo were MIA on 2 March 1944 over Belgium.

Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944.
Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.'
Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Mervyn Wilson, Assistant Historian to the 379th Bomb Group Association:
'The aircraft is 42-37805 FO-B “Carol Dawn” assigned to 527BS of the 379th Bomb Group and is photographed on the main runway at Kimbolton. You will see the triangle K symbol on the tail and right wing which denotes the 379thBG, not 381BG as presently captioned.
Despite the reference to a date of 4th Feb 1944 (handwritten caption on reverse), Roger Freeman confirms the event date as 11th Feb 1944 on page 179 of his Mighty Eighth War Diary. This photo is linked to FRE 4784 which depicts flares being fired to warn other returning aircraft of the runway problem caused by “Carol Dawn” on 11/2/44.'

Object Number - FRE 4836 - A bomber crew of the 527th Bomb Squadron of 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress 42-37805 FO-B “Carol Dawn” on 11 February 1944. The...

Description

This mission is composed of two separate elements. 3rd Bomb Division stands down having sustained massive losses of 29 aircraft on the previous day. 

The first element is a combined force of 201 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; and 453BG despatched to bomb the V-Weaon sites near Siracourt, France. 4 groups using PFF equipment bombed the target - 94 aircraft effective. 4 other Groups assigned other targets in the area lacked PFF equipment and were unable to bomb. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 10KIA. 1 aircraft returning with a full bomb load crashed upon return and was declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). 17 other aircraft were damaged. 1 airman was KIA and 1 airman was WIA in returning aircraft. There were NO claims on enemy aircraft made by the bomber gunners in this element. 

The second element was a combined force of 223 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division: 91BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 369BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 452BG were despatched to bomb the primary target of the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany. 157 aircraft were effective on the target. Cloud cover and smoke caused other formations to bomb targets of opportunity at Ludwigshaven, Germany - 32 aircraft effective; Saarbrucken, Germany - 19 aircraft effective; 4 others bombed other targets of opportunity. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 25POW 21EVD. 3 aircraft were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings and accidents upon return - 1KIA 29RTD. 26 airmen aboard retuning aircraft were WIA. The bomber gunners of this element calimed 3-0-2 of attacking German aircraft.

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 10.20
  • Aircraft sent: 4
  • Aircraft effective: 4

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany are the primary target, but cloud cover frustrates some groups from attacking this target and they divert to bombing other marshalling yards at Ludwigshaven and Saarbrucken.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 388.00
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People wounded in action: 26
  • People evaded: 21
  • Prisoners of war: 25
  • People returned to duty: 35
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 168
  • Aircraft effective: 157
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 124

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 98.00
  • Aircraft sent: 32
  • Aircraft effective: 32

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 39.00
  • Aircraft sent: 19
  • Aircraft effective: 19

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Siracourt is bombed by 94 of 201 B-24s using Pathfinder (PFF) equipment, the other More than 100 aircraft were to hit other targets without using Pathfinder (PFF) and were unable to find their targets.

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 392nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 448th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 274.00
  • People killed in action: 11
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 201
  • Aircraft effective: 94
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 17

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: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6962724
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16006483
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32583791
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-434690
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Operations Officer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wolf Pack
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • 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: Clean Cut
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little moe
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tenny Belle
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Feb 2016. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to the Frankfurt element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

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'.

8th Air Force 218: Gallery (5 items)