8th Air Force 851
27 February 1945Description
1,107 bombers and 745 fighters are dispatched to hit road and rail communications at Halle and Leipzig using H2X radar
Mission Details
Halle / Leipzig
Description: Road and rail communications at Halle and Leipzig are attacked using H2X Radar, fighter aircraft provide escort for the bomber force.
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
![Personnel of the 97th Bomb Group look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from a raid on Rouen, from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten captio](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379323.jpg.webp?itok=yT71Hmaq)
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2728.7
- People missing in action: 20
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 83
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 19
- Aircraft sent: 1852
- Aircraft effective: 1752
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 7
Halle / Leipzig
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2728.7
- People killed in action: 3
- People missing in action: 18
- Aircraft sent: 1107
- Aircraft effective: 1062
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 7
Leipzig Communications Centres (Secondary) / Targets of Opportunity
Description: The First Bomb Division are attack their Secondary target of Leipzig to bomb Communication Centres. 4 Aircraft bomb targets of opportunity.
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: The whole of the 1st Bomb Division were dispatched on this mission, with the exception of the 305th Bomb Group.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 926.0
- People killed in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 378
- Aircraft effective: 366
Fighter Escort
Description: 246 P-51 Mustangs provide Fighter Escort for B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 1st Bomb Division attacking Leipzig
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 246
- Aircraft effective: 218
Halle Marshaling Yards (Primary) / Bitterfeld Marshaling Yard (Opportunistic) / Targets of Opportunity
Description: The 2nd Bomb Division are dispatched to Halle to bomb Marshaling Yards, 21 aircraft bomb Bitterfield opportunistically, while 3 others bomb Targets of Opportunity
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: All groups of the 2nd Bomb division participated in the mission.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 780.5
- People killed in action: 1
- People missing in action: 18
- Aircraft sent: 351
- Aircraft effective: 338
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 4
Fighter Escort
Description: P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs provide fighter escort for B-24 Liberators of the 2nd Bomb Division attacking Halle.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- People missing in action: 2
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 46
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 3
- Aircraft sent: 215
- Aircraft effective: 196
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
Leipzig Communication Centres (Primary) / Targets of Opportunity
Description: B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 3rd Bomb Division attack their primary target of communications centres in Leipzig, 3 aircraft bomb targets of opportunity.
Notes: The 96th, 100th, 385th and 487th Bomb Groups did not participate in the mission.
![Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408505.jpg.webp?itok=zJwHCUjh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1022.2
- People killed in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 378
- Aircraft effective: 358
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 3
Fighter Escort
Description: P-51 Mustangs provide Fighter Escort for B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 3rd Bomb Division attacking Leipzig
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 37
- Enemy aircraft damaged by fighter: 16
- Aircraft sent: 243
- Aircraft effective: 235
Photo Recconnaissance
Description: 2 F-5 Lightning's and 2 Spitfires of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group were dispatched on photo reconnaissance duties over Eastern Germany
![Photographic officers of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group look through camera lenses infront of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Esten Illustrated.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 8 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273528.' [Censor no.]. A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380976.jpg.webp?itok=b-IRYuYJ)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Reconnaissance
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 4
Fighter Escort
Description: 13 P-51 Mustangs provide Fighter Escort for the Photographic Reconnaissance Aircraft flying over Eastern Germany
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 13
- Aircraft effective: 13
Scouting Force
Description: 28 P-51 Mustangs are dispatched as a Scouting Force
Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 28
- Aircraft effective: 28
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: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39911604
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer/ Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 38390216
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35331002
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2072788
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lucky Lady aka Screaming Eagle
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Passion Wagon ; Victory Devils
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Round Tripper
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dirty Duchess ; Snafu
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Spirit of Martinez, Cal's Rascals
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Restored information removed by User Vitkvage2LtB24PilotStanleyFamily from mission record to ensure that the record reflects the experience of the whole 8th Air Force rather than that of one group.
Mission name, number, narrative and details from:
Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary
8th Air Force Historical Society
Official Military reports and records. First hand account by Pilot.
Military Records and First hand report from Pilot.
First hand report from Pilot and military records/reports.
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'.