Description

The port area of Bremen, Germany is the focus of this mission composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 154 B0-17 of 1st Bomb Division including 94BG (16); 385BG (17); 95BG (21); 100BG (18); 390BG (21); 96BG (40); and 388BG (21). 60 aircraft of this element were effective on the port area; 1 aircraft from 91BG, 9 from 385BG and 7 from 390BG drop on targets of opportunity. 3 aircraft from this element Failed to Return (FTR) 13KIA, 9POW, 8RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft crashed on take off and was destroyed but all 10 crew RTD. 9 aircraft returned damaged wit 2 airmen Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claim 9-6-11 of attacking German aircraft.



The second element was scheduled to be a large formation from 1st Bomb Division but weather hampered assembly. The final dispatch was one formation of 5 aircraft: 305BG (2); 306BG (2) and 381BG (1). 2 of these aircraft were effective on the port area at Bremen, Germany. 1 aircraft returned too damaged to repair (DBR) 10RTD and 2 others were damaged. 8 airmen were KIA in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners of this element claimed 0-1-0 of attacking German aircraft.



NOTE: 4-B-17s from 482BG equipped with PFF equipment were dispersed among the formations, 1 aborted.



The third element was composed of 109 B-24s of 2nd Bomb Division including: 93BG (25); 389BG (27); 44BG (33) and 392BG (24). 53 were effective at Bremen and 7 from 93BG attack Helgoland Island as a target of opportunity. 13 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 93KIA 36POW 3EVD. 3 aircraft crashed on landing and were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 2KIA 18RTD. 4 aircraft returned damaged with 22 Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claimed 11-7-2 of attacking enemy aircraft.