VIII Bomber Command 121

5 November 1943
media-15228.jpeg UPL 15228 The crew of "Flak Suit" in Texas, 1943. Back row, from left to right Hank C. Johnson, George Watt, Albertus Harrenstein, Leslie E. Meader, Joseph A. Sage and John M. Craig. Front row : William J. Bramwell Jr, William E. Current, Charles L. Smith and John J. Maiorca.

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
MACR 3137
Escape & Evasion Reports
Wiast Gunner George Watt's book "Escape from Hitler's Europe : An American Airman Behind Enemy Lines".

Object Number - UPL 15228 - The crew of "Flak Suit" in Texas, 1943. Back row, from left to right Hank C. Johnson, George Watt, Albertus Harrenstein, Leslie E. Meader, Joseph...

Description

Having had good success with P-38 escorts and limiting penetration depth into Germany this mission is directed at the railroad marshaling yards and oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen, Germany. In addition the marshaling yards at Munster, Germany are also targeted.



The mission consists of three elements: The first element is a formation of 193 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division including: 94BG (29); 95BG (25); a double dispatch of 43 from 96BG; 100BG (25); 385BG (24); 388BG (25); and 390BG (23) dispatched to bomb the railroad marshaling yards and oil refinery at Gelsenkirched, Germany. The numbers dispatched indicate this is another "maximum effort". 155 aircraft are effective on the target. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 31KIA 14POW 5EVD all lost to Anti-aircraft fire or damage therefrom. 1 aircraft with battle damage crash lands at Elmham St. Cross, UK and is considered Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 10RTD. 260 aircraft are damaged (most to to AA fire). 9 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners make no claims on enemy aircraft. The FTRs included B-17F 42-31030 "Shy Anne" from 390BG/571BS which was the last B-17F model assigned to a USAAF combat theater.



The second element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division including: 91BG (18); 92BG (22); 303BG (19); 305BG (19); 306BG (21); 352BG (18); 379BG (21); 381BG (22); and 384BG (20) dispatched to bomb the railroad marshaling yards at Gelsenkirchen, Germany. 186 are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 8KIA 22POW. 1 battle damaged aircraft makes a crash landing at Ipswich, UK and is declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DRB) 10RTD. 111 aircraft are damaged (most due to AA fire). 22 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claim 5-1-3 of attacking German aircraft.



NOTE: 11 PFF H2X radar equipped B-17s from 482BG are dispersed among the B-17 formations to pinpoint the target and signal "bombs away" to the bombardier of the formations.



The third element is a combined force of 118 B-24 of 2nd Bomb Division including: 44BG (32); 93BG (26); 389BG (30); and 392BG (30) dispatched to bomb the railroad marshaling yards at Munster, Germany. 104 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 16KIA 15POW. 7 aircraft are damaged with 22 airmen Wounded in Action (WIA). This element does not have fighter escort. The bomber gunner claim 21-4-7 of attacking German aircraft.

Mission Details

GELSENKIRCHEN (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 482nd Bomb Group contributes 4 Pathfinder (PFF) equipped B-17s, 3 strike the target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 384.52
  • People killed in action: 10
  • People wounded in action: 22
  • Prisoners of war: 21
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 184
  • Aircraft effective: 171
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 111

GELSENKIRCHEN (Primary)

Description: OIL REFIENRY and MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 482nd Bomb Group contributes 3 Pathfinder (PFF) equipped B-17s, two strike the target. More than 500 aircraft took part in this raid. Flak is very heavy, resulting in many damaged aircraft, but fighter resistance is light. 383 fighters including 47 P-47s escort the two waves of B-17s.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 354.78
  • People killed in action: 33
  • People wounded in action: 9
  • People evaded: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 14
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 197
  • Aircraft effective: 157
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 105

Münster, Germany

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: 482nd Bomb Group contributes 4 Pathfinder (PFF) equipped B-17s, 4 strike the target. One B-24 dropped 12 x 500 M50 IB on COESFELD as a Target of Opportunity, and one B-24 dropped 8 x 500GP and 16 x 100 IB on HALTERN as a Target of Opportunity.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 284.05
  • People killed in action: 23
  • People wounded in action: 22
  • Prisoners of war: 14
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 21
  • Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 4
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 7
  • Aircraft sent: 118
  • Aircraft effective: 104
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 43

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Bonnie-B
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-683009
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37428551
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17038024 at enlistment, then O-523266
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34362270
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Charlene
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 562nd Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Darlin' Dolly
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30182) nicknamed "Blondie II" of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blondie II
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quarterback
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed ""Li'l" One" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388.' Printed caption on reverse: 'B-61555 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Li'L One" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lil One
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorwilliam henry
Changes
Sources

Correct typos

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Addedbomber gunner claims to Muster element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 1st BD statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

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'.

VIII Bomber Command 121: Gallery (4 items)