8th Air Force 275
23 March 1944Description
The industrial areas of Brunswick, Munster, Osnabruck, and Achmer, Germany as well as the airfield at Handorf, Germany become the targets for a force of 768 heavy bombers despatched by all three Air Divisions. The bomber gunner claims on German aircraft were bundled in the source data as 33-8-11. These are sated in the statistics of 3rd Air Division. Mission Summary follows:
3rd Air Division: A combined force of 224 B-17s from: 94BG; 95BG/96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG are despatched to attack the industrial areas of Brunswick, Germany as a secondary target. 205 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 others bomb Targets of Opportunity in the Burnswick area. 17 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 64KIA 95POW 1EVD 10RTD (rescuded by ASR). 221 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returning aircraft are KIA and 6 others are WIA. There are no other losses or casualties. The combined claims of the bomber gunners on attacking German aircraft were 33-8-11.
1st Air Division: A combined force of 300 B-17F from: 91BG; 92BG;303BG; 305BG;306BG;351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 457BG are despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Munster, Germany as a secondary target. 47 are effective on the target; 83 attack the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 67 bomb the industrial area of Ahlen, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 19 aircraft bomb the industrial area of Neubeckham, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 80 aircraft bomb other Targets of Opportunity in the Munster area. 6 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 22KIA 45POW. 56 aire damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is KIA and another 3 are WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
2nd AIr Division: A combined force of 244 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; 453BG; 458BG; and 466BG are despatched to bomb the primary target of the airfield at Handorf, Germany. 68 are effective on the target; 36 bomb the industrial area of Achmer as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 21 bomb the airfield at Achmer, Germany; 12 bomb the indsutrail area of Munster, Germany as a secondary target; 52 bomb the industrial area of OSanbruck, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); and 14 aircraft bomb other Targets of Opportunity in the area of Munster, Germany. 6 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 28KIA 29POW(1DIC) 1EVD. 45 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: It has not been determined which aircraft from 3rd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 6.77
- Aircraft sent: 3
- Aircraft effective: 3
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: 35.17
- Aircraft sent: 14
- Aircraft effective: 14
Münster, Germany
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 57.75
- Aircraft sent: 21
- Aircraft effective: 21
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 90.43
- Aircraft sent: 36
- Aircraft effective: 36
AHLEN (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: 238.52
- Aircraft sent: 67
- Aircraft effective: 67
Brunswick, Germany
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Weather conditions scatter the attack. Groups participating are all part of 3rd Bomb Division. The bomber gunner claims of all 3 Air Divisions are included in the statistics of this element.
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- 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: 469.04
- People killed in action: 22
- Prisoners of war: 45
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 33
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 11
- Aircraft sent: 221
- Aircraft effective: 205
- Aircraft missing in action: 7
- Aircraft damaged: 221
HAMM (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: 295.48
- Aircraft sent: 83
- Aircraft effective: 83
Handorf, Germany
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Groups participating are all of 2nd Bomb Division. Losses for all targets bundled. HANDORF (Primary)
- 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: 170.82
- People killed in action: 28
- People wounded in action: 1
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 29
- People died in captivity: 1
- Aircraft sent: 109
- Aircraft effective: 68
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
Münster, Germany
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 30.14
- Aircraft sent: 12
- Aircraft effective: 12
Münster, Germany
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This is the secondary target for the B-17s Groups participating are all of 1st Bomb Division. 457th BG MISSION NO. 18 - LIPPSTADT, GERMANY 23 MARCH 1944 Twenty-six aircraft returned to the air field at Lippstadt, the scene of the first operational mission, to bomb an operational fighter field. This field was used by Me-109s and I lOs, and for storage of FW-190s and Me-109s. The Group led the 94th Combat Wing, flying fourth in the Division formation. Lt. Col. Raymond L. Cobb (Wing A-3) was Air Commander and Lt. Vinton H. Mays was pilot. Heavy clouds were encountered over the target area, forcing the Group to bomb other targets, particularly Munster. Some craft bombed targets of opportunity (Drensteinfurt). Bombing results were unobserved. Fighter opposition and flak were light. There were no personnel casualties and all planes returned to the Base. Smoke bombs carried by the lead craft exploded prematurely inside the aircraft causing discomfort to the crew. In addition to the lead box, the Group supplied seven aircraft for a composite box that had Gutersloh for its target. It was covered with clouds and Munster was bombed as the secondaty target. Crews reported that apparently the Germans were shooting up a shell projecting white ribbons of smoke resembling the markers dropped by PFF or lead aircraft.
- 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: 167.43
- People killed in action: 67
- People wounded in action: 6
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 95
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 131
- Aircraft effective: 47
- Aircraft missing in action: 17
- Aircraft damaged: 56
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: 67.64
- Aircraft sent: 19
- Aircraft effective: 19
OSNABRUCK (Opportunistic)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 130.62
- Aircraft sent: 52
- Aircraft effective: 52
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: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-754991
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- 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: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-683645
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The 8 Ball MK II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Bomb Totin Mama
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Dark Rhapsody
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th 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
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 53052
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 42, 23 Mar 1944, Ahlen, Germany
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 5-Mar-2016. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of 3rd AD at Brunswick element based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 5-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narratie based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman, "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACRS.
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma18.html
Target pin for 'BRUNSWICK (Secondary)' had automatically been created near Brunswick in Australia. Changed this to Brunswick, Germany.
Target pin for 'HANDORF (Primary)' had automatically been created near Adelaide in Australia. Changed this to Handorf, Germany.
Target pin for 'HANDORF (Primary)' had automatically been created near Adelaid in Australia. Changed this to Handorf, Germany.
Target pin had automatically been created at Munster in Ireland. Changed this to Munster, Germany.
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'.