VIII Bomber Command 37

26 February 1943
media-23266.jpeg UPL 23266 Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed "SpitzFire"
(Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)

Ds 6/30/2018

Object Number - UPL 23266 - Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed...

Description

After 10 days of weather related delays of the bomber offensive, a mission is organised with the port facilities of Emden, Germany as the primary target. However, Emden is obscured by cloud cover and all formations divert to attack the port facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 76 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (19); 305BG (20) and 306BG (17). 59 of this formation are effective on the target but 5 B-17s are MIA.



17 B-24s are also despatched with Emden as the primary, but they too divert to Wilhelmshaven. 44BG (11) and 93BG (6), of these only 6 are effective on the target and 2 from 44BG are MIA. The bomber gunners claim the following against German fighters: 21 destroyed; 9 probably destroyed; and 5 damaged. There is no fighter escort for this mission.

Mission Details

WILHELMSHAVEN (Opportunistic)

Description: NAVAL BASE

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 21.70
  • People killed in action: 12
  • Prisoners of war: 9
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 17
  • Aircraft effective: 9
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

WILHELMSHAVEN (Opportunistic)

Description: PORT AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: BREMEN was the primary target but was overcast by clouds. WILHELMSHAVEN chosen at target of opportunity. No fighter escort on this mission. Bomb tonnage includes one X 500GP dropped on a German convoy of ships.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 142.30
  • People killed in action: 35
  • People wounded in action: 14
  • Prisoners of war: 17
  • Aircraft sent: 76
  • Aircraft effective: 59
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32218162
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18116125
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner, Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728225
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Observer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36022408
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-435877
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: JERAVAD Une Petite Peu
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
ContributorDespitz
Changes
Sources

DS 2/25/18

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 18-Feb-2015. Corrected typo in Description

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description based on " 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'.

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