8th Air Force 275

23 March 1944

Description

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.

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)

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.

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

Harold C. Harpootlian
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 32353239
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35579373
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12141148
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0 800 898
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fools Luck III
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Black Magic
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 401st Bomb Group stand with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31662) nicknamed "Fancy Nancy IV" after fixing her engines. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Another famous Fort and her crew.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Berlin Bessie
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorTennyBelle
Changes
Sources

8th AF Database

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"Attlebridge Arsenal" - John Woolnough
Page 21, 22202, 208

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma18.html

Date
ContributorLucyMM
Changes
Sources

Target pin for 'BRUNSWICK (Secondary)' had automatically been created near Brunswick in Australia. Changed this to Brunswick, Germany.

Date
ContributorLucyMM
Changes
Sources

Target pin for 'HANDORF (Primary)' had automatically been created near Adelaide in Australia. Changed this to Handorf, Germany.

Date
ContributorLucyMM
Changes
Sources

Target pin for 'HANDORF (Primary)' had automatically been created near Adelaid in Australia. Changed this to Handorf, Germany.

Date
ContributorLucyMM
Changes
Sources

Target pin had automatically been created at Munster in Ireland. Changed this to Munster, 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'.