VIII Bomber Command 145

1 December 1943
media-7461.jpeg UPL 7461 42-30033 Nose Art, "Little America"

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Object Number - UPL 7461 - 42-30033 Nose Art, "Little America"

Description

This mission was directed at the industrial areas of Leverkusen and Solingen, Germany. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (27); 92BG (18); 303BG (17); 305BG (16); 306BG (22); 351BG (36); 379BG (20); 381BG (25); 384BG (19); 401BG (15); and 482BG (6) PFF equipped. The primary target for this element was Leverkusen, Germany but clouds obscured the target so the whol element diverted to the secodary target at Solingen, Germany. 201 aircraft were effective on the secondary. 19 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 67KIA 88POW 1DIC 11EVD 23RTD (rescued by ASR); 2 aircraft crashlanded on return and were declared Dmaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 1KIA 2WIA 16RTD; 4 airmen were KIA and 17 Wounded in Action (WIA) in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners claim 3-0-3 of attacking German aircraft.



The second element is a combined force of 78 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (18); 93BG (21); 389BG (24); 392BG (15) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Solingen, Germany. 69 aircraft are effective on the target. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 17KIA 31POW 2EVD. 1 battle damage aircraft crashlanded on return 9 KIA; 6 airmen in returning aircraft were Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claimed 1-5-2 of attacking German aircraft.

Mission Details

SOLINGEN (Primary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 172.49
  • People killed in action: 36
  • People wounded in action: 6
  • Prisoners of war: 31
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2

SOLINGEN/LEVERKUSEN (Primary)

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Weather is extremely cold. 7 Bomb Groups from 3rd Bomb Division abandon the mission. 1st Bomb Division (listed here) were briefed for Leverkusen as their primary, but hit Solingen as the Pathfinder (PFF) secondary. B-17G, 42-39850, 306th Bomb Group/423BS returned to base safely, but waist gunner SSGT Guy J. Aubrey, SN 38130380 apparently had bailed out and was captured a MACR was issued but never numbered. He was held at Stalag Luft IV, Gross-Tychow, Prussia and Returned to Military Control (RMC) on 14-Jun-45.

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Lieutenant John C "Red" Morgan of the 482nd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt Red Morgan, Cong, Med of Hon.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 529.96
  • People killed in action: 71
  • People wounded in action: 17
  • People evaded: 11
  • Prisoners of war: 89
  • People returned to duty: 42
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 221
  • Aircraft effective: 212
  • Aircraft missing in action: 19
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32410832
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795709
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35722592
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18217123
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Full Boost!
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Maryland, My Maryland : Billie
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cased Ace
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kathy Jane
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wolf Pack
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Jul-2015. Added bobmber gunner claims to 1nd BD statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Jul-2015. Added bobmber gunner claims to 2nd BD statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-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 145: Gallery (9 items)