8th Air Force 253

9 March 1944
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission. media-457002.jpg FRE 9709 A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group, 546TH Bomb Squadron falls towards the ground after having its tail shorn off by falling bombs during a mission to Berlin, Ball turret gunner and waist gunner were able to bail out at 5,000 feet, 9 March 1944. MACR 3005. 42-37781. Roger Freeman Collection

Just a bit more info

Object Number - FRE 9709 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group, 546TH Bomb Squadron falls towards the ground after having its tail shorn off by falling bombs during...

Description

Berlin is once again targeted by this mission as a secondary target. Primary target not listed in source data. All 3 Air Divisions despatch aircraft. There is very little fighter opposition. Mission Summary follows:



1st Air Division: A combined force of 224 B-17s from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; 457BG; and 482BG are despatched to Berlin, Germany. 208 aircraft are effective on the target; 303BG/422BS also drops 2,012,000 leaflets. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 8KIA 2POW 10INT (Sweden) 2 were lost to AA fire and the other was lost because it lost its tail due to a bomb dropped from above. 2 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DRB) 1 in a crash upon take off - 10KIA and 1 abandoned over England upon return - 10RTD. The bomber gunners claim 1-0-0 of attacking German aircraft. 3 airmen are WIA in returning aircraft. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.



3rd Air Division: A combined force of 137 B-17s from: 94BG; 95BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG are despatched to Berlin, Germany. 131 are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1 to AA fire the other 2 in ditchings in the English Channel upon return - 10POW 20RTD (rescued by ASR). 3 airmen are WIA in returning aircraft. There are no other losses casualties or claims.



2nd Air Division: A combined force of 165 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; 453BG; and 458BG are despatched to Berlin but their PFF aircraft failed and they ended up bombing anti-aircraft batteries and other industrial sites at Hannover; Brunswick and Nienburg, Germany. 150 are effective on a target. 2 aircraft with battle damage are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings upon return - 20RTD. 12 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses casualties or claims.

Mission Details

BERLIN (Secondary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Groups participating are all 3rd Bomb Division.

The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.

452nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'

94th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.

95th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 303.50
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 13
  • People returned to duty: 36
  • Aircraft sent: 137
  • Aircraft effective: 131
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

BERLIN (Secondary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 401st Bomb Group, 457Bomb Group, 482nd Bomb Group. Fighter opposition is light as 808 USAAF fighters perform escort. Groups participating are all 1st Bomb Division. 457th BG MISSION NO. 10 - ORANIENBURG, GERMANY 9 MARCH, 1944 The mission called for the bombing of a Heinkel Bomber Aircraft Assembly Factory at Oranienburg, sixteen miles north of Berlin. Eighteen aircraft were dispatched. The factory produced approximately forty He-177s per month, the majority of the heavy bomber output for Germany. The 457th led the 94th Combat Wing, fourth in the Division formation. Major Henry B. Wilson was Air Commander and Lt. Raymond A. Syptak was pilot. At the IP it was determined the undercast was such that a run should be made on Berlin, which was then carried out. Bombing was done by PFF, and the results were not observed because of the undercast. Fighter opposition was broken up by P-47s escorting the Group. Flak in the Berlin area was heavy and accounted for damage to several of the aircraft; however, none were lost to the enemy opposition.

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'

401st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Lieutenant John C "Red" Morgan of the 482nd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt Red Morgan, Cong, Med of Hon.'

482nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 498.00
  • People killed in action: 18
  • Prisoners of war: 12
  • People interned: 10
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 224
  • Aircraft effective: 208
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2

Brunswick, Germany

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: On target list as a secondary, but not attacked

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

HANOVER (SECONDARY)

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Groups participating are all of 2nd Bomb Division. They drop on anti-aircraft batteries around Berlin after their Pathfinder (PFF) aircraft failed. They also dropped 201,200 leaflets.

Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'

453rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'

458th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.

93rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 410.50
  • People evaded: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 16
  • People returned to duty: 20
  • Aircraft sent: 165
  • Aircraft effective: 159
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2

NIENBURG (Secondary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: On target list as a secondary, but not attacked

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane. Six men standing to the rear, five men kneeling in front. A bundle of cold-weather flying gear is laying in front of kneeling men

Doyle Herman Blankenship

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33213036
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Frank Chester Bobrowicz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32686782
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Buenaventur L Castillo

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39091682
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Adolph Bernard Chilek

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18187769
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Donald L Cooper

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-31083

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tenny Belle
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

42-31159

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron

42-31166

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Billie Jr
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron

42-31258

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucky Strike
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 95th Bomb Group return to Horham following a raid in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31320) nicknamed "I'll Be Around". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], '809571 [Censor no], 'Passed for publication 5 Mar 1944' [stamp] and 'USA(BRI)CCC' [ written annotation]. Printed caption on reverse: 'WRITE NEW CHAPTER IN BERLIN DIARY, FORTRESSES RAID GERMAN CAPITAL FOR FIRST TIME. Flying Fortresses battling their way through snow and a temperature of nearly "60 be

42-31320

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: I'll Be Around
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorWWII37
Changes
Sources

711th Bombardment Squadron (H), 447th Bombardment Group (H)
B-17-G #42-39882, “My Gal” Crew
Top Left to Right: August E. Herlth, Eugene G. D'Albero, Larry S. Hatfield, Martin J. Gruber
Bottom Left to Right: William M. Lindgren, Bailey E. Swadley, Raymond L. Hayes, William H. Stoyer, Rocco J. LoCarro, Louis L. Jenkins

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added bomber gunner claims to statistics of 1AD element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary:, Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma10.html

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Moved pin from Hannover South Africa to Hanover Germany

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 253: Gallery (8 items)