VIII Bomber Command 108
4 October 1943
Object Number - UPL 20021 - 42-30043 SO-V, RUTHLESS, Ditched in the North Sea on return from a mission (#108) to Frankfurt, 4 October 1943. Photo courtesy of Eugene Spearman.
Description
This mission is composed of five elements. The first element is a combined force of 104 B-17s from: 306BG (16); 92BG (17); 395BG (17); 303BG (19); 379BG (18) and 384BG (17) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Frankfurt, Germany. 77 aircraft are effective on Frankfurt; 15 others bomb the industrial areas of Wiesbaden, Germany. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) from Frankfurt. 5KIA 35POW. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) from Wiesbaden 10RTD (rescued by ASR). All tolled 45 aircraft are damaged. 2 airmen are KIA in returning aircraft and 8 are Wounded in Action (WIA) The bomber gunners from this element claim 19-3-15 of attacking German aircraft.
The second element is a combined force of 51 B-17s from: 381BG (17); 351BG (17); and 91BG (17) despatched to bomb the city of Frankfurt. 37 aircraft are effective on the target; 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 14KIA 16POW. 1 airman is KIA in a returning aircraft and 2 are WIA; 35 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 18-8-22 of attacking German fighters.
The third element is a combined force of 115 B-17s from: 95BG (21); 100BG (25); 390BG (25); 385BG (20); and 94BG (24). 64 aircraft are effective on the industrial areas of Saarlautern, Germany; and 38 aircraft attack the German airfield at St. Dizier/Robinson, France. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 19POW 11EVD and 10RTD (rescued by ASR). The bomber gunners in this element claim 37-7-7 of attacking German fighters.
The fourth element is a combined force of 53 B017s from 96BG (35) and 388BG (18) depatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Sarreguemines, France and Saarbrucken, Germany. 47 aircraft are effective on these targets. There are no losses or claims, but 2 aircraft are damaged.
The fifth element is a force of 38 B-24s from 392BG (32) and 44BG (8) despatched to fly a diversion for the B-17s attacking at Franfurt, Germany. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 31KIA. Another aircraft returned to base but 2 of the crew baled out over the sea and were lost. 11 airmen were wounded in returning aircraft. 19 aircraft were damaged. The bomber guuners in this element claim 13-6-3 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
- People killed in action: 33
- People wounded in action: 11
- People returned to duty: 8
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 13
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
- Aircraft sent: 38
- Aircraft effective: 38
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 19
FRANKFURT CITY (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 77 aircraft hit Frankfurt, Germany. Mission leaders are 100 miles off course.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 218.7
- People killed in action: 5
- People wounded in action: 5
- Prisoners of war: 35
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 12
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 7
- Aircraft sent: 104
- Aircraft effective: 77
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 32
FRANKFURT CITY (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Air base
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 88.25
- People killed in action: 15
- People wounded in action: 2
- Prisoners of war: 16
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 18
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 22
- Aircraft sent: 51
- Aircraft effective: 37
- Aircraft damaged: 35
SAARLAUTERN (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 168.75
- People wounded in action: 6
- People evaded: 5
- Prisoners of war: 15
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 37
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 7
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 7
- Aircraft sent: 71
- Aircraft effective: 67
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 5
SARREGUEMNINES / SAARBRUCKEN (Last Resort)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 102.75
- Aircraft sent: 53
- Aircraft effective: 47
- Aircraft damaged: 2
SAINT-DIZIER (Last Resort)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 85.25
- People wounded in action: 7
- People evaded: 7
- Prisoners of war: 3
- People returned to duty: 23
- Aircraft sent: 44
- Aircraft effective: 38
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 14
WIESBADEN (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 15 aircraft hit Wiesbaden, Germany
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 46.50
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 7
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 6
- Aircraft sent: 15
- Aircraft effective: 15
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 15
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: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-731137
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32414218
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37111609
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32478396
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-52478
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Audrey
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 368th Bomb Squadron 369th Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Meat hound
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Maryland, My Maryland | Billie
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 367th Bomb Squadron
![Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407619.jpg.webp?itok=aEyghgX9)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iza vailable
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
303rd BG Web Page
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims on German fighters to statistics for Saarlautern per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Wiesbaden statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A.Freeman
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to tstatisitcs for the element attacking Frankfurt City (51) A/C per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Correecting statistics on Frankfurt (Primary) attack per "the Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jul-2015. Added Bomber gunner claims to the B-14 Diversion element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
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'.
