VIII Bomber Command 113
9 October 1943Photo from 42-30353 "Ten Knights in a Bar Room" (95th BG).
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A21959-C25581AC
AAM DB Entry Correction.
Description
This mission is composed of 6 elements. The first element is a combined force of 115 B-17s from: 303BG (20); 379BG (20); 384BG (21); 351BG (21); 91BG 16; and 381BG (16) dispatched to bomb the industrial areas of Anklam, Germany. 106 aircraft are effective on the target. 18 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 89KIA 92POW; 1 aircraft returns but is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 10RTD. 51 aircraft are damaged. 25 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners claim 65-19-47 of attacking German aircraft (probably exaggerated). The 351BG is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for their actions on this mission (claimed 26-2-16 of enemy aircraft).
The second element is a combined force of 100 B-17s from 385BG (22); 94BG (18); 390BG (21); 100BG (16) and 95BG (23) dispatched to bomb the industrial areas of Marienburg, Germany. 96 aircraft are effective on the target. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 10KIA 10POW 1EVD. 13 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners claim 9-2-0 of attacking German fighters.
The third element is a small formation of 29 B-24s from 93BG (17); and 389BG (12) dispatched to bomb the U-Boat pens at Danzig, Germany. 23 aircraft are effective on the target.2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 2KIA 19INTin Sweden; 1 aircraft returns and is declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 10RTD. 8 aircraft are damaged. 1 airmen is a returning aircraft is Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners of this element claim 2-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.
The fourth element is a small formation of 22 B-24s from 44BG (8) and 392BG (14) dispatched to bomb the port area of Gydnia, Poland. This is the first combat mission for 44th BG since returning from temporary duty in North Africa. 18 aircraft are effective on the target.11 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners calim 5-3-4 of attacking German aircraft.
The fifth element is a combined force of 52 B-17s from: 96BG (18) and 388BG (24) dispatched to bomb the port area of Gydnia, Poland. 51 are effective on the target. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 16KIA 15POW 10INT (in Sweden). 6 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claim 30-4-6 of attacking German aircraft.
The sixth element is a combined formation of 112 B-17s from 305BG (18); 92BG (21); and 306BG (21) dispatched to bomb the port area of Gydnia, Poland. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 6KIA 14POW. 2 aircraft return Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 20RTD. The bomber gunners of this element claim 11-4 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 351st Bomb Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (2 of 2) for its actions on this raid.
- 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: 185.50
- People killed in action: 88
- People wounded in action: 25
- Prisoners of war: 93
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 65
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 19
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 47
- Aircraft sent: 115
- Aircraft effective: 106
- Aircraft missing in action: 18
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 51
Description: U-BOAT PENS
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: 50.25
- People killed in action: 2
- People wounded in action: 1
- People returned to duty: 29
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 29
- Aircraft effective: 23
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 8
Description: PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This element is a formation of 1st Bomb Division Bomb Groups (92BG, 305BG, and 306BG) bombing the port area of Gdynia, Poland
- 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: 147.23
- People killed in action: 6
- Prisoners of war: 14
- People returned to duty: 20
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 11
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 4
- Aircraft sent: 60
- Aircraft effective: 58
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 62
Description: PORT 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
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 127.27
- People killed in action: 15
- People wounded in action: 6
- Prisoners of war: 15
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 30
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 6
- Aircraft sent: 52
- Aircraft effective: 51
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 37
Description: PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: First combat mission for 44th Bomb Group since returning from North Africa.
- 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: 36.00
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 5
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 4
- Aircraft sent: 22
- Aircraft effective: 18
- Aircraft damaged: 11
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This element reports excellent bombing results.
- 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: 217.90
- People killed in action: 10
- People wounded in action: 3
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 9
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 100
- Aircraft effective: 96
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 13
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 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39398025
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16066310 / O-735023
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- 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: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-681319
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37264777
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner / Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Piccadilly Filly
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damn Yankee
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Audrey
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 368th Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sky Wolf
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 23775
- Description: Certificate showing the 33 Missions completed by Capt. William M. Bryan Jr of the 93rd Bomb Group
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of Anklam per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of to Danzig element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of Marienburg element attacking Gydnia per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statictis of 2BD (44BG & 329BG) element attacking Gydnia per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of 3BD (96BG, 388BG) attack on Gydnia per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims and enemy aircraft to 1BD (92BG,305BG,306BG) 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'.