VIII Bomber Command 60

21 May 1943
An Airman of the 305th Bomb Group in his quarters Passed for publication 2 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2/6/43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Daily Sketch, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. media-407722.jpg FRE 4319 Lieutenant Colonel John De Russey of the 305th Bomb Group in the base hospital after being wounded on a mission over Kiel, 21 May 1943. Passed for publication 2 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2/6/43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Daily Sketch, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Identified person based on Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary, p. 64

Object Number - FRE 4319 - Lieutenant Colonel John De Russey of the 305th Bomb Group in the base hospital after being wounded on a mission over Kiel, 21 May 1943. Passed for...

Description

The German naval and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven and Emden, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. Once again, there is a two-fold strategic objective: entice the Luftwaffe to commit its fighter forces; and further degrade the naval and port facilites supporting the German U-Boat fleet. A combined force of 98 B-17s is despatched from: 91BG (21); 303BG (19); 305BG (18); 306BG (21); and 351BG (19) to attack the harbour facilities at Kiel, Germany. The Germans know this is a high priority objective for the Allies and have no choice but to vigorously defend it. 77 of the 98 B-17s are effective on the target. The cost is high, at about 7% of the attacking force. 7 B-17s MIA. However, the bomber gunners claim 47-5-17 on the attacking fighters. 

A second combined force of 63 B-17s is despatched from: 92BG (6); 94BG (20); 95BG (15) and 96BG (22). 96BG abandoned the mission because of formation assembly problems so none of that group were able to bomb. 46 of the 63 B-17s are effective on the target. Once again the cost is high with nearly 8% of the force shot down. 5 B-17s are MIA, 3 from the 94BG, or 15%. The bomber gunners claim 31-6-6 of the attacking fighters. 

While these attacks are achieveing moderate success on the naval facilities, they are taking a toll on the Luftwaffe. However, the 7-8% loss rate among the bomber crews is of great concern, especially on the morale of the bomber crews. Based on the cumulative losses on 8th Air Force bomber crews to this date, the chances of a crew completeing 25 missions has dropped to 41.97%

Mission Details

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 94th Bomb Group one B-17 crash-landed at North Weald, UK, aircraft DBR. 96th Bomb Group one B-17 Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) at base.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 111.00
  • People killed in action: 39
  • People wounded in action: 5
  • Prisoners of war: 13
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 63
  • Aircraft effective: 46
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

Description: NAVAL BASE

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: German fighters fire air-to-air rockets. There is no fighter escort on this mission. One 306th Bomb Group was down at sea, but crew of 10 rescued after spending 30 hours in a dinghy. Not included in Missing in Action (MIA) mission count. 306th had 4 aborts.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 193.00
  • People killed in action: 44
  • People wounded in action: 9
  • Prisoners of war: 28
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 98
  • Aircraft effective: 77
  • Aircraft missing in action: 7
  • Aircraft damaged: 24

Connections

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

People

Staff Sergeant Donald W. Crossley, a tail gunner of the 95th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/9/43.' A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse of print, this has been lost, however considering the publication date, press agency and subject matter this was likely to have read: 'AWARDS TO THE HIGH-SCORING GUNNER. The Distinguished Flying Cross and an oak leaf cluster- the equivalent
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15107390
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Major John C. Egan, of the 100th Bomb Group, wearing a fez on his return from the Regensburg Shuttle mission. Associated News Story: '"Arabian Knights Return": Men Who Made Shuttle-Bombing Raid On Regensburg. Wearing red fezes and carrying Arabian knives, the first contingent of airmen who participated in the shuttle-bombing raid on Regensburg returned from their temporary North African bases yesterday, August 22 - five days after the heavy attack on the Nazis' largest aircraft Messerschmidt factory. No b
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-399510
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17075343
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armorer/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew, led by Captain Vern Iverson, of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30412) nicknamed "Mischief-Maker II". Official caption pritned on image: (GPR-50-1-96)(22-8-43) Capt Iverson's Crew.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-418039
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Skack Buster
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lonesone Polecat
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rat Killer
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured are: B-17F (serial number 42-29808) and B-17F (serial number 42-29706) nicknamed "Passion Flower" (after the Disney character from 'Bambi')- both were written off as a result of the explosion. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-25287 AG Planes 3 and 4 (later) in foreground were damaged beyond repair. The scene of the explosion, which ocurred as bombs were loaded in
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Passion Flower
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorMags
Changes
Sources

303RD BG Web Page

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-Jan-2014. Added description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman; Chances of completing a 25-mission tour calculated by Mr. Cunningham based on the cumulative statistics of number of bombers despatched versus number MIA.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-Jan-2014. Added description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.

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 60: Gallery (3 items)