VIII Bomber Command 140

29 November 1943

Description

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.

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.

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: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12050909
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-683907
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-741157
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-799377
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 10601362
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30235) nicknamed "The Zoot Suiters" of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lonesome Polecat : The Zoot Suiters
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Terror
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Liberty Belle | Patches
  • Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: T'aint A Bird II
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 334th Bomb Squadron
Ten Knights in a Bar Room
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ten Knights in a Bar Room
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 1st BD element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-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'.