8th Air Force 244
2 March 1944
Object Number - UPL 34055 - "American Flying Fortresses scored hits on eight medium sized hangars, two smaller ones, a workshop and dispersal areas when they attacked the German...
Description
The primary targets for this mission are: the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany; and the German air depot ar Chartres, France. The mission is composed of two entierly separate forces. 327 B-17s from 1st Air Division joined by 154 B-24s from 2nd Air Division are slated to bomb at Frankfurt, Germany. 106 B-17s from 3rd Air Division are slated to bomb at Chartres, France. Mission summary as follows:
1st Air Division: 327 B-17s from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG, 379BG; 381BG; 384BG, 401BG; 457BG; and 482BG are despatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany. Clouds frustrate bombing efforts and some formations attack other Targets of Opportunity (TOs) in the area: 101 aircraft are effective at Frankfurt-am-Main railyards; 103 bomb at Frankfurt/Offenbach as a TO; 49 bomb the industrial areas of Ludwigshaven, Germany as a TO. 20 bomb the industrial areas of Limburg, Germany as a TO. 12 bomb the industrial areas of Fischbach as a TO; and 8 others bomb other TOs. 8 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 17KIA 48POW(1DIC) 15EVD. 1 airmen is KIA and 5 are WIA in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners of this element claim 2-0-2 of attacking German aircraft.
2nd Ari Division: 154 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 392BG; 446BG; 448BG; and 458BG are despatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany. This is the firct combat mission for 458BG. Cloud cover and PFF failures cause many to abandon the attempt. 36 are effective at Frankfurt, Germany; 46 other bomb other Targets of Opportunity (TOs) in the area. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 1KIA 6POW 3EVD. 4 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR), 2 of these sustained a mid-air collision durning assembly - 15KOM 1RTD, 1 crashed on takeoff - 7KOM 3 INJ, and one battle damaged aircraft crash landed upon return - 10RTD. 4 airmen in returning aircraft were WIA. There were no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
3rd Air Division: 106 B-17s from: 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 100BG; 388BG; 390BG; and 452BG are despatched to bomb the German air depot at Chartres, France. 452BG took off late and was recalled before it left the Englich coast. 390BG failed to bomb because lead aircraft had a malfunction of the bomb rack. 84 aircraft are effective on the target. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 5KIA 4POW 1EVD. 1 airman in a returning aircraft was WIA. 12 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
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: 19.21
- Aircraft sent: 8
- Aircraft effective: 8
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 54.97
- Aircraft sent: 46
- Aircraft effective: 46
CHARTRES (Primary)
Description: AIR DEPOT
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 452nd Bomb Group was late in taking off due to bomb fusing problems and was recalled before leaving the English coast.
- 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: 258.20
- People killed in action: 5
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 4
- Aircraft sent: 106
- Aircraft effective: 84
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 12
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
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: 28.81
- Aircraft sent: 12
- Aircraft effective: 12
FRANKFURT/MAIN (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Pathfinder (PFF) failures disperse the attack. Attack on Targets of Opportunity due to navigational error.
- 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: 331.00
- People killed in action: 17
- People evaded: 15
- Prisoners of war: 48
- People died in captivity: 1
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 135
- Aircraft effective: 101
- Aircraft missing in action: 8
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 10
FRANKFURT/MAIN (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: James Stewart, of film fame, becomes the Group Executive Officer for the 453rd Bomb Group. First mission for 458th Bomb Group. Pathfinder (PFF) failures and clouds frustrate bombing attempts.
- 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: 43.02
- People killed in action: 23
- People evaded: 3
- Prisoners of war: 6
- People returned to duty: 13
- Aircraft sent: 108
- Aircraft effective: 36
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
FRANKFURT/OFFENBACH (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target. 457th BG MISSION NO. 5 - FRANKFURT, GERMANY 2 MARCH 1944 Eighteen aircraft were dispatched to Frankfurt to bomb the Alfred Treves factories, makers of 50% of the aircraft piston rings produced in Germany. Six wings of the 1St Air Division were dispatched to this target. The 457th comprised the 94th Combat Wing high box. Major Theodore C. Hoffman was Air Commander and Lt. Raymond A. Syptak was pilot. There was ten-tenths overcast from the French Coast to the target and return. Bombing was done by PFF at 26,000 feet. The 94th Combat Wing went in to the target with the lead and high box abreast and the low box in trail. Bomb results were not observed due to the undercast. The formation over the target had been reduced to fourteen planes. One craft left the formation over France. Three others aborted the mission due to oxygen failure. Light resistance by enemy aircraft and by flak was encountered. All aircraft returned and damage was slight.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 247.30
- Aircraft sent: 103
- Aircraft effective: 103
LIMBURG (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
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: 48.02
- Aircraft sent: 20
- Aircraft effective: 20
LUDWIGSHAFEN (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
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: 117.65
- Aircraft sent: 49
- Aircraft effective: 49
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: 16006483
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31037975 / O-681515
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34386317
- Highest Rank: Private
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-522720
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot | C-Pilot | Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33213036
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Jayhawker
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ginny
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ye Olde Hellgate
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2016. Completed statistics fro 2AD based on "The Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2016. Completed statistics for 1AD element based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stand Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2016. Completed statistics for Chartres element per MACR 2886 and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan BIshop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/MA5.html
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/MA5.html
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'.
