VIII Bomber Command 63
13 June 1943
(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
German naval facilities and port areas at Bremen, Germany and Kiel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. A formation of 151 B-17s despatched from: 91BG (21); 92BG (17); 303BG (27); 305BG (24); 306BG (28); 351BG (21); and 379BG (13) are to bomb the U-Boat pens and naval facilities at Bremen, Germany. 20 aircraft from this formation drop on targets of opportunity in the Bremen area. 122 of the 151 despatched are effective on a target. Flak and fighter opposition is moderate. 4 B-17s are MIA. Bomber gunners claim 2-2-1 of enemy aircraft.
A second formation of 76 B-17s is despatched from: 94BG (26); 95BG (26); and 96BG (24) to bomb the naval facilities and port area of Kiel, Germany. 16 of these aircraft bomb targets of opportunity in the Kiel area. 60 of the 76 B-17s despatched are effective on a target. Flak and fighter opposition is fierce and 22 (28.9%) of the attacking force are MIA, the greatest loss for the 8th AF. The 95BG sustains the highest loss (10 MIA) of heavy bombers on a single mission thus far in the War. Brig Gen Nathan B. Forrest, Commanding Officer of 95BG is killed. The bomber gunners claim 39-5-14 of the enemy fighters.
This mission was the first and the last time the 95BG used the "Forrest formation" where aircraft were lined up in flat formation, wing tip to wing tip, as opposed to the standard box formation used by the eighth air force during that period.
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 19.75
- Aircraft effective: 16
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 50.50
- Aircraft sent: 20
- Aircraft effective: 20
BREMEN (Primary)
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This mission experiences the heaviest fighter attacks to date. No fighter escort on this mission. The 95th Bomb Group loses the first General Killed in Action (KIA) in 8th Air Force, BRIG GEN Nathan B. Forrest. An observer aboard 42-30164.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 253.75
- People killed in action: 15
- People wounded in action: 8
- Prisoners of war: 16
- People returned to duty: 8
- Aircraft sent: 131
- Aircraft effective: 102
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 31
KIEL (Primary)
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 99.75
- People killed in action: 158
- People wounded in action: 22
- Prisoners of war: 61
- People returned to duty: 28
- Aircraft sent: 76
- Aircraft effective: 44
- Aircraft missing in action: 22
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 23
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18124489
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36324682
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16065401
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19063468
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jersey Bounce
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Check
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Shamrock Special
- Unit: VIII Air Force Service Command 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Augerhead
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
B17s Over Berlin: Personal stories from the 95th bomb group.
Lee Cunningham 6-Jan-2015. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.
