Description

The shipyards and industrial areas of Bremen, Germany are the primary targets for this mission, but cloud cover causes some formations to bomb targets of opportunity. The attacking elements have been summarized below:

The first element is a combined force of 118 B-17s from: 91BG (16); 381BG (21); 351BG (19); 379BG (21); 384BG (21) and 303BG (20) dispatched to bomb the shipyards at Bremen, Germany. 105 aircraft are effective on various targets, 44 of these actually drop on Bremen. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 33KIA 57POW. 2 other airmen in returning aircraft are KIA and 18 are Wounded in Action (WIA). 61 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 42-2-28 of attacking German fighters. The 381BG is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for their actions on this mission.

The second element is a combined force of 56 B-17s from: 305BG (17); 306BG (20); and 92BG (19). 53 aircraft are effective on targets; 33 of these bomb the industrial area of Bremen and 19 drop on Vegesack. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 12KIA 22POW 1DIC 1EVD. 44 aircraft are damaged. 1 other airman is KIA in returning aircraft and 12 are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claim 24-7-17 of attacking German fighters.

The third element is a combined force of 170 B-17s from: 388BG (21); 94BG (21); 96BG (42); 385BG (22); 100BG (22); 390BG (21); and 95BG (21) dispatched to bomb any available target at Bremen, Germany. 156 aircraft are effective on some target with 97 of the 156 actually bombing Bremen, Germany. 14 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 54KIA 87POW 1EVD; 2 other aircraft are listed as returning so damaged as to be considered Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) one from 100BG (confirmed 1DOI 10RTD) and one from 95BG (actually repaired 10RTD); 110 aircraft are damaged. 21 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claim 84-12-33 of attacking German fighters.

NOTE: Bomber gunner claims on attacking German aircraft are most often exaggerated due to the pandemonium of the action experienced during the attacks. However, even so, the formations attacking at Bremen certainly gave the Luftwaffe a "bad day."

The fourth element was a combined force of 55 B-24s from: 389BG (18); 93BG (19); and 392BG (18) dispatched to bomb the U-Boat pens at Vegesack, Germany. 43 are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 21KIA 9POW; 1 other airman in a returning aircraft was KIA and 5 were Wounded in Action (WIA). 21 aircraft were damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 17-1-7 of attacking German fighters.