VIII Bomber Command 140
29 November 1943Description
This is another massive raid on Bremen, Germany by a force of 360 B-17s. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 182 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 94BG (40); 95BG (20); 96BG (41); 100BG (20); 385BG (20); 388BG (20); and 390BG (21). High clouds frustrate bombing efforts and only 104 aircraft are effective on the target. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 60KIA 27POW 3RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft crash lands on return at RAF Beccles and is declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 10RTD. 32 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman is KIA and 11 other are WIA in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners in this element claim 8-10-8 of attacking German fighters.
The second element is a combined force of 178 B-17 from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (21); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 395BG (9); 306BG 27); 351BG (19); 379BG (19); 381BG (22); 384BG (19); and 482BG (5). 50 aircraft are effective on the target. Weather and clouds hamper bombing efforts. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 18KIA 23POW 1DIC. 1 aircraft sustained a landing gear failure on return and belly landed aircraft DBR. 10RTD. The bomber gunners in this element claim 6-1-2 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
Bremen, Germany
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Cloud conditions (Tops at 29,000 ft.) and malfunction of Pathfinder (PFF) equipment causes problems. 390th Bomb Group is unable to make the drop.
- 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: 308.50
- People killed in action: 61
- People wounded in action: 2
- Prisoners of war: 27
- People returned to duty: 3
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 10
- Enemy aircraft destroyed by fighter: 8
- Aircraft sent: 162
- Aircraft effective: 104
- Aircraft missing in action: 9
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 32
Bremen, Germany
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Despatch from 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group and 381st Bomb Group unable to drop.
- 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: 148.50
- People killed in action: 21
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 20
- People died in captivity: 1
- People returned to duty: 20
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 178
- Aircraft effective: 50
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 11
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: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13064856
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 1st Scouting Force 385th Fighter Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728536
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-798297
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-676530
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665266
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Black Diamond Express
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: What's Cookin' Doc
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Dark Horse, a.k.a. Mumsie
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Vanishing Virgin | X-Virgin
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 364th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 1st BD element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to 3rd BD element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "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'.