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

Howard J Gurney

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-828162
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Headshot for Flight Officer William Herron, USAAF

William Howard Herron

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: AO939940 / T-134564
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

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

Verbal L Holcomb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 391st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18162274
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Verne E Jordan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38517916
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Air Gunner

Aircraft

French prisoners of war await transport home in a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97931) nicknamed "Madame Queen" of the 401st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'French POW's flown back to France after war. IN-Q then IW-A "Madame Queen".'

42-97931

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Madame queen
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane parked on grass. Six men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front. Large canvas bags are on the ground.

42-98027

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Swamp Angel
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron

43-37628

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heavenly Body
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron

43-37706

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

43-37717

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Pro-Kid
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th 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)