VIII Bomber Command 161
22 December 1943
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 3668 - Technical Sergeant Edward Fee of the 91st Bomb Group enjoys a cup of coffee surrounded by his comrades at Bassingbourn after his final mission....
Description
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF equipped from 482BG)from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (28); 92BG (22); 303BG (20 - did not drop); 305BG (19); 306BG (21); 351BG (31 - did not drop); 379BG (21); 381BG (22); 384BG (20); and 401BG (21 - did not drop). 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 22KIA 27POW. Of 2 aircraft returing with battle battle damage, 1 crash lands at Ubbeston, UK 10RTD and the other is abandoned near Washingly, UK 10RTD, both aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). 5 airmen are KIA and 8 are Wounded in Action (WIA) in returning aircraft. 21 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 12-2-3 of attacking German aircraft.
The second element of the force directed to Osnabruck is a force of 121 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 93BG (18); 389BG (26); 445BG (26); 446BG (25); and 448BG (26). 87 aircraft are effective on the target. 12 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 82KIA 35POW 1DIC.
1 aircraft with battle damage crash landed at Manston, UK. 1KIA 9RTD. 5 airmen in returing aircraft were Wounded in Action (WIA). 11 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claimed 6-6-3 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The force attacking at Munster, Germany is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 180 B-17s (including 3 PFF-equipped from 482BG) from 3rd Bomb Division that included: 94BG (20); 95BG (30); 96BG (27); 100BG (30); 385BG (20); 388BG (31); and 390BG (19). 164 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 22KIA 8POW. 2 aircraft with battle damage crashlanded back in England, aircraft DBR, 10RTD. 1 airman in a returning aircraft was Wounded in Action (WIA). 29 aircraft are damaged. There are no claims on enemy aircraft.
The second element attaking at Munster is composed of 43 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (23) and 392BG (20). 30 aircraft are effective on the target. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 15KIA 5POW-1DIC. There are no claims by this element on attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
Münster, Germany
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 5 B-17s from 390th Bomb Group join with the first wave to drop 80 X 250IB on Osnabruck. 4 Pathfinder (PFF)-equipped B-17s from 482 accompany this wave, 3 are effective on the target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 299.59
- People killed in action: 23
- People wounded in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 7
- People returned to duty: 20
- Aircraft sent: 181
- Aircraft effective: 167
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 29
Münster, Germany
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 54.81
- People killed in action: 15
- Prisoners of war: 4
- People died in captivity: 1
- Aircraft sent: 43
- Aircraft effective: 30
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
OSNABRUCK (Primary)
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Heavy cloud cover disrupts the formations. 303rd Bomb Group fails to bomb because of another formation passing underneath. 351st Bomb Group fails to bomb because of a malfunction in the lead aircraft. 401st Bomb Group fails to bomb because of a Pathfinder (PFF) breakdown. 482nd Bomb Group despatches 4 Pathfinder (PFF) aircraft to accompany this element and second wave but only two are effective on the target. A 401st Bomb Group aircraft suffered a bomb strike and was abandoned over England crashing near Washingley.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 333.82
- People killed in action: 28
- People wounded in action: 8
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 27
- People returned to duty: 20
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 12
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
- Aircraft sent: 159
- Aircraft effective: 149
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 21
OSNABRUCK (Primary)
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 448th Bomb Group flies its first mission. 20 B-17s and B-24s drop 265 X 500GP on Targets of Opportunity. 488th Bomb Group loses one aircraft due to a bomb strike.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 197.58
- People killed in action: 86
- People wounded in action: 5
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 35
- People returned to duty: 9
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
- Aircraft sent: 121
- Aircraft effective: 87
- Aircraft missing in action: 12
- 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: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793780
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-801290
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746733
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38321224
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
Aircraft
- 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: Old 66 / Lady Margaret
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Clean Cut
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bonnie Donnie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 2BD (Osnabruck) statisitics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 1BD (Osnabruck) statisitics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A> Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.
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'.