8th Air Force 277
24 March 1944Description
This mission is composed of two elements, one from 1st Air Division and the other from 2nd Air Division. A total of 436 hevay bombers are despatched. The primary target for 1st Air Division is the the ball bearing plants at Schweifurt, Germany. 2nd Air division's primary target is the German airfield at St. Dizier, France. Mission Summary follows:
1st Air Division: A combined force of 230 B-17s from: 91BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 457BG are despatched to bomb the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany. Heavy clouds and dense contrails cause the majority of formations to attack the secondary target of the industrial area of Frankfur, Germany. 4 flights (16 aircraft) of 1st Air Division fail to take off because of a blocked perimeter track. 60 aircraft are effective on Schweinfurt and 162 are effective on Frankfurt. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR), 2 lost to a mid-air collision and 1 to enemy aircraft - 10KIA 16POW 4EVD. 3 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR), 2 lost in chrashes on take off - 21KIA. One crashed into a hut killing 8 servicemen in the hut and 2 children in a nearby bungalow. 1 battle damaged aircraft was DBR in a crash landing upon return - 10RTD. 68 aircraft are damaged. 14 airmen in returning aircraft are KIA and 1 is WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
2nd Air Division: A combined force of 148 B-24s from: 44BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; 453BG; 458BG; and 466BG are despatched to bomb the German airfield at St. Dizier, France. 148 are effective at St. Dizier. 33 others bomb at the German airfield of Essey at Nancy, France as a secondary target. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) ditching in the North Sea, but all crew rescued by ASR - 10RTD. 24 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returning aircraft are WIA. There are no other losses, causalties or claims.
Mission Details
FRANKFURT (Secondary)
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: 382.00
- People killed in action: 21
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 162
- Aircraft effective: 162
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
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: 105.00
- Aircraft sent: 33
- Aircraft effective: 33
SCHWEINFURT (Primary)
Description: BALL BEARING FACTORIES
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Schweinfurt was the primary target but heavy could cover and contrails cause most of the formation to bomb Frankfurt as the secondary. Groups participating are from 1st Bomb Division. No bomber gunner claims. 457th BG MISSION NO. 19 - SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY 24 MARCH 1944 The Group dispatched seventeen aircraft to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt. The key note to the operational order read 'It is imperative that 060049/10 be destroyed’ 060049 was the largest machine shop in the ball bearing works of Keigelfischer AG, and had escaped damage from previous raids. Col. Luper was Air Commander and Lt. Russell M. Selwyn, pilot. The Group comprised the high box of the 94th Combat Wing. Bombing was carried out in a heavy undercast, and the results were not visible. No fighter opposition was reported, and flak was light. Three aircraft suffered damage, but there were no personnel casualties, and all aircraft returned to the Base. On 24 March all members of the ground crews servicing and maintaining the aircraft received the commendation of the Commanding Officer. He commended all ground personnel for a job well done.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 130.20
- People killed in action: 13
- People evaded: 4
- Prisoners of war: 16
- Aircraft sent: 69
- Aircraft effective: 60
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 68
Saint-Dizier, France
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Frankfurt is the primary target for the B-24s but the target is overcast, so the secondary targets are hit. Groups participating are part of 2nd Bomb Division. No bomber gunner claims.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 463.70
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 173
- Aircraft effective: 148
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 24
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: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2071574
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16133962
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner, Third Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-804331
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0683704, 36153242
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15338788
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wabbit Twacks
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Salvo Sadie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Command performance
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
![Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight gear before a mission to Berlin in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 24 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '313403.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin, 22/3/44, 231740.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380081.jpg.webp?itok=j1oiDjBg)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Shape
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Frreman, "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop and John A. Hey MBE and MACRS.
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/MA19.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'.