Description

The port area and oil refineries at Ludwigshaven, Germany are the target for this massive attack of 710 heavy bombers. The despatch includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG, 11 of these are effective on the mission, 3 are damaged, and the bomber gunners claim 1-0-1 od attacking German aircraft (this statistic has been included in the claims of 1st Bomb Division).

The mission is composed of 4 elements (2 of these are both from 2nd BD). The first element is a combined force of 289 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that includes: 91BG (26); 92BG (26); 303BG (33); 305BG (29); 306BG (27); 351BG (36); 379BG (38); 381BG (28); 384BG (25); and 401BG (21). 266 aircraft are effective on the target. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 15KIA 21POW 5EVD 9RTD (rescued by ASR). 3 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 1 on take off and 2 in crash landings upon return 5KIA 25RTD. In aircraft at returned, 5 airmen are KIA and 7are WIA. 51 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 3-1-4 (1-0-1 added from Pathfinders).

The second element was composed of a formation of 74 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 93BG (21); 44BG (28); and 448BG (25). 62 aircraft are effective on the target. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 10KIA 4POW 6RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) upon return when aircraft landed too far down the runway and struck 41-29130. Determined to be 100% pilot error. Pilot reduced to Co-Pilot and sent to a rest home. There were no other casualties or claims.

The third element was a force of 241 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division that included: 94BG (38); 95BG (38); 96BG (31); 100BG (19); 385BG (20); 388BG (36); 390BG (40); and 447BG (29). 226 aircraft were effective on the target. 9 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 27KIA 27POW (1DIC -shot trying to escape) 23EVD 4RTD (rescued by ASR). 2 battle damaged aircraft made crash landings in England upon return and were declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 20RTD. 2 airmen were KIA and another 10WIA aboard aircraft that returned. 52 aircraft were damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claimed 5-3-4 of attacking German aircraft.

The fourth element was another contingent of 94 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (24); 389BG (22); 392BG (25); and 445BG (23). 83 aircraft were effective on the target. 6 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 7KIA 34POW 12EVD 1INT. 4 airmen were KIA and 2 WIA aboard returning aircraft. 10 aircraft were damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claimed 4-0-1 of attacking German aircraft.