8th Air Force 932

8 April 1945
Two airmen of the 398th Bomb Group examine the damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress. media-380494.jpg FRE 1686 Two airmen of the 398th Bomb Group examine the damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Damaged received while on the April 8,1945 mission to Derben, Germany. Just after bombs-away a direct hit by flak completely tore the tail gunner position away and disabled the rudder controls. The tail gunner, S/Sgt. Wallace E. Kasch, was carried away without his chute, his remains were never found. It took the skill of the two pilots, Lt. Col. Edwin B. Daily and 1st Lt. John L. Hahn, to get the aircraft back to base using the engines for directional control. MACR 13869 Roger Freeman Collection

From MACR 13869

Object Number - FRE 1686 - Two airmen of the 398th Bomb Group examine the damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Damaged received while on the April 8,1945 mission to Derben,...

Mission Details

Description: MUNITIONS PLANT

Notes: A mix of 245 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.

Description: OIL DEPOT

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Description: JET AIRCRAFT PLANT

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: ORDNANCE DEPOT

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Connections

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

People

Gene Carlton Grime

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19087003
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Benjamin Francis Hathaway

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-703359
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Joseph L Hembling

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Carl P Hershfield

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-828170
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Lester Roger Hess

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-928692
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-97992

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hap Hazard : Trouble Buggy
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron

43-37602

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady Vivian
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

43-37706

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Satan's Chillen
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

43-37707

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Madame Shoo Shoo
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 324th Bomb Squadron

43-37783

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucky Sherry : Temptation

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

https://valortovictory.tripod.com/1945-04.htm

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, pilot of B-17 (43-39056), 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, who flew from Great Ashfield, England to Hof on this mission, 8 Apr 1945

Date
Contributorjdossetter
Changes
Sources

https://www.google.com/maps/place/52%C2%B025'34.0%22N+12%C2%B000'05.0%2…

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 932: Gallery (9 items)