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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-413520.jpg.webp?itok=wu7Y0o5l)
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.
- 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: 388.00
- 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.
- 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: 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: 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 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34602703
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34441193
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 0 752 479
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Maggie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Tenabove
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31235) nicknamed 'Goin' Dog' of the 384th Bomb Group takes off for a mission. A censor has obscured the triangle P and serial number on the aircraft's tail. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 24 April 1944.' [stamp] and '313357.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Back from Berlin. Crews of US Fortress Station returning from the Berlin raid which took place recently. 34320. A Fortress takes off- destination Berlin](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380089.jpg.webp?itok=4ixJ1-Ec)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Goin' Dog
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Scorchy
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shack Rabbit
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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.
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.
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'.