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.

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.

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.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-799377
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32517860
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Harold C. Harpootlian
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 32353239
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-799778
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37174496
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Flak
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
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
  • 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: T'aint A Bird II
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 334th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (KY-M, serial number 42-3051) of the 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, 26 June 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '26/6/43.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Angels
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 366th 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

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
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)