VIII Bomber Command 191

24 January 1944
media-17089.jpeg UPL 17089 B-17 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II' sustained Flak damage on a mission to Frankfurt on 24th Jan 1944. A 88mm Flak shell exploded nearby causing the damage and also the departure from the A/C of the tail gunner S/Sgt Roy Urich. Urich was wounded but miraculously survived to become a POW. With a new tail section fitted the A/C returned to Ops renamed to 'Boeing Belle'. Seen here on the ground at RAF Eastchurch, Kent, UK.
Witnesses on board swear he flew through the air still in his seat and hanging on to Browning gun handles !!

USAAF Photo.

Object Number - UPL 17089 - B-17 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II' sustained Flak damage on a mission to Frankfurt on 24th Jan 1944. A 88mm Flak shell exploded nearby causing the...

Description

The primary target of this mission was the Zukunft power station at Eschweilier, Germany. The mision was composed of 563 bombers three elements from 1BD, 2BD and 3BD. The despatch from 2BD was recalled due to weather before it could take off. Mission summary as follows:



3rd Bomb Division: 272 B-17s were despatched from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG, 388BG, 390BG and 447BG. Weather hampered bombing and only 56 of this formation were effective on the target. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 5 KIA, 12 POW, 3 EVD. 1 aircraft crashed on takeoff - 1 KIA 9 RTD. 1 airman was KIA in a returning aircraft. The bomber gunners claimed 1-0-3 of attacking German aircraft.



2nd Bomb Division - element recalled before takeoff.



3rd Bomb Division: 291 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG; 351BG; and 381BG. 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash landing at Ickelton Abby, UK - 4 KIA, 6 RTD. There were no other losses or claims.

Mission Details

Description: ZUKUNFT POWER STATION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: All groups in this element were recalled, but 56 managed to bomb the power station.

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.

447th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'

94th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 10
  • People evaded: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 12
  • People returned to duty: 15
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 272
  • Aircraft effective: 56
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2

Eschweiler, Germany

Description: ZUKUNFT POWER STATION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: A combined force of B-17s and B-24s were despatched to bomb industrial targets around Frankfurt. However, weather frustrated form-up and only 563 of the force were despatched. Eventually all groups were recalled. Only two aircraft from this element managed to drop bombs on the power station.

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 143.00
  • Aircraft sent: 291
  • Aircraft effective: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 5

Frankfurt, Germany

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: All the B-24s were recalled before leaving the ground.

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.

389th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 392nd Bomb Group.

392nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.

446th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 448th Bomb Group.

448th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Russell Phillip Allman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-685753
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

George E Ayers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18042331
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Clifford Eugene Barker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35368934
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Hobert Jackson Beavers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35447653
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Robert Eugene Bellora

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13057861
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner

Aircraft

A 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (XK-R, serial number 41-24578) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124578, XK:R.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses stati

41-24578

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Problem Child : Old Reliable
  • Unit: Base Air Depot 1 547th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

42-29554

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Maryland, My Maryland : Billie
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

42-29632

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Cased Ace
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

42-29636

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Vanishing Virgin | X-Virgin
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 364th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron

42-29703

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kathy Jane
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Detailed description" - “due” was misspelled.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Jan-2016. Corrected aircraft associations of FTRs and DBRs per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Jan-2016. Added bomber gunner claims to statistics of 3BD element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Jan-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
Contributorjdossetter
Changes
Sources

http://www.8thafhs.com/maps.php?lat=50.8252&lon=6.30105&target_name=ESC…

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 191: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 17089 - B-17 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II' sustained Flak...

Object number: UPL 17090 - B-17G 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II' sustained...

Object number: UPL 17092 - B-17G 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II' sustained...