VIII Bomber Command 156
16 December 1943
384thbombgroup.com
Object Number - FRE 4893 - A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group , Crashed at Coltishall, UK, 16 December 1943. 42-29733 SU-D, LOUISIANA PRUCHASE Battle...
Description
This is a massive mission of 631 heavy bombers directed at the port area of Bremen, Germany. The force of 631 included 1 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG dispersed among the attacking formations. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a formation of 239 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division that included: 94BG (39); 95BG (40); 96BG (36); 100BG (24); 385BG (21); 388BG (39); and 390BG (40). 219 aircraft are effective on the target. This element encounters the brunt of fighter attacks. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 71KIA 19POW. The 96BG loses 7 aircraft. 5 aircraft are lost to mid-air collisions. 1 aircraft returning with battle damaged is abandodned by the crew over Silver Fox Farm, Norfolk, UK 10RTD. 70 aircraft are damaged. 5 airmen in returning aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this formation claim 17-11-11 of attacking German aircraft.
The second element is a force of 141 B-24s of 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (22); 93BG (26); 389BG (28); 392BG (17); 445BG (24); and 446BG (24). This is the first combat mission for 446BG. 133 aircraft are effective on the target. There are NO combat losses in thie formation but 2 retuning aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crashlandings 6KOM in the crash 4POW and 10RTD. 22 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returing aircraft are Wounded in Action (WIA). There are no claims on enemy aircraft from the bomber gunners of this element.
The third element is a force of 240 B-17s of 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (27); 92BG (20); 303BG (19); 305BG (23); 306BG (20); 351BG (35); 379BG (23); 381BG (31); 384BG (22); and 4O1BG (20). 173 aircraft are effective on the target. Only 1 aircraft of this element Failed to Return (FTR) 6KIA 2POW 2EVD. 1 aircraft sustained battle damage and crash landed at RAF Colitshall 10RTD but aircraft was declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). 52 aircraft are damaged. There are no other casualties. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.
This mission was supported by fighters including 39 P-51s. Fighter escort is beginning to make a big difference in heavy bomber losses as only 10 of the 631 Failed to return and 5 of these were due to mid-air collisions for a loss rate of 1.584%. The tide is turning and the Luftwaffe is being decimated, but there is still a significant fight ahead.
Mission Details
Bremen, Germany
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 520.13
- People killed in action: 72
- Prisoners of war: 19
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 17
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 11
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 11
- Aircraft sent: 238
- Aircraft effective: 219
- Aircraft missing in action: 9
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 67
Bremen, Germany
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 5 B-17s and two B-24s drop 56 X 500GP and 132 X 100 IB on Targets of Opportunity. (not included in totals). 351st Bomb Group and 401st Bomb Group do not have any aircraft effective on the target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 434.63
- People killed in action: 6
- People evaded: 2
- Prisoners of war: 2
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 251
- Aircraft effective: 183
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 61
Bremen, Germany (2AD Primary Target)
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 446th Bomb Group flies its first mission.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 367.5
- People killed in action: 5
- People wounded in action: 8
- Aircraft sent: 141
- Aircraft effective: 131
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 21
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: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734654
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18079857
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-676246
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- 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: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36724855
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Flak Hack 8". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 21 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289357.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘THE FORTRESSES GO OUT AGAIN. US bombers day raid on German works. A Brilliant series of pictures secured by our cameraman when the USAAF kept up the offensive from an English base against a factory in western Germany, they had a](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380400.jpg.webp?itok=6x888O8T)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Eight Ball : 8 Ball : Flak Hack
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron 571st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pistol Packin' Mama
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Destiny's Tot | Cincinnati Queen | Kathy Jane III
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Peggy Ann
- Unit: 1st Strategic Air Depot 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 94th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 2 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 25-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 1BD statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 25-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 3BD statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 25-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Source document: Eighth Air Force Combat Chronology
Source document: 2nd Air Division Mission Report obtained from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
Source document: 2nd Air Division Mission Report obtained from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
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'.