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

George C Munroe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2073194
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Jack S Novak

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

John Sylvester Phalen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Richard D Proudfit

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14166848
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

John A Rein

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

Aircraft

43-38372

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rainbow
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little King". Handwritten on reverse: 'From Malcolm E. Corum, 391st BS, 34th BG.'

43-38378

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hotter N Hell, Little King
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 390th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron 568th Bomb Squadron

43-38380

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Toni-7
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron

43-38391

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hit and Run
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group

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)