8th Air Force 961

19 April 1945
Ground crew of the 25th Bomb Group spray foam onto the crashed Mosquito (serial number NS748) at Watton, 19 April 1945. Official caption printed on image: '(G-AD-[illegible])(19-4-45)(MOS.748CRASH)(REST.)' media-378760.jpg FRE 584 Ground crew of the 25th Bomb Group spray foam onto the crashed Mosquito (serial number NS748) at Watton, 19 April 1945. The pilot was Lt John Merrill Carter. The aircraft made a "ground loop" at Watton, UK on 19 April 1945.

Official caption printed on image: '(G-AD-[illegible])(19-4-45)(MOS.748CRASH)(REST.)' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 584 - Ground crew of the 25th Bomb Group spray foam onto the crashed Mosquito (serial number NS748) at Watton, 19 April 1945. The pilot was Lt John Merrill...

Mission Details

Description: ESCORT MISSION

Notes: 6 P-51s escort 7 F-5s on a photo recon mission.

AUSSIG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

ELSTERWERDA

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is the last combat mission for the 306th Bomb Group. They have flown 342 missions in 9,614 sorties and dropped 22,575 tons of bombs. They report 171 aircraft MIA. They were stationed in England at one base (Thurleigh) longer than any other Bomb Group in 8th AF. They were the first Bomb Group to complete 300 missions from the UK. They remain the oldest operational Bomb Group in the 8th AF.

FALKENBERG

Description: ESCORT MISSION

FALKENBERG

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KARLSBAD

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

NORWAY

Description: CARPETBAGGER MISSION

Notes: 11 of 16 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to Norway

PIRNA

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

Connections

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People

Charles J Burkhart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-131707
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Luis B Coppola

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39849255
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot on B-17

Norman Donald DeClarke

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1061360
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunnery Instructor

Harold Eugene Dwyer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37480721 and 0-784131
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

John Angus Ferard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-780560
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Mary Alice" of the 401st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '401. Unknown. C2. '

42-31983

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mary Alice
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

42-32012

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

42-97309

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kathleen Lady of Victory
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Factory fresh B-17s

42-97664

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Aw Come On
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

42-97824

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

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 961: Gallery (2 items)