VIII Bomber Command 75

24 July 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

Three targets in Norway are the primary targets for this first mission flown by 8th AIr Force to Norway. They are the nitrate works at Heroya and the port areas at Trondheim and Bergen. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (22); 92BG (15); 303BG (20); 305BG (19); 306BG (21); 351BG (21); 381BG (21); and 384BG (20). 167 of these aircraft are effective on the target. 92BG compliment included 1 YB-40 gunship. Fighter resistance is light and the bomber gunners claim 9-2-0 of the attacking fighters. 1 battle damaged B-17 form 381BG makes a forced landing at Vannacka, Sweden. All 10 crewmen and the aircraft are interned in Sweden. This is the first aircarft and crew to be interned in Sweden. 

The second element is a combined force of 45 B-17s from: 95BG (21) and 100BG (24) despatched to bomb the port area at Trondheim, Norway. 41 of these aircraft are effective on the target. 1 battle damaged B-17 from 100BG makes a crash landing at Fraserburg Airfield, UK. All crew OK, but aircraft is considered to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) (Category E loss). The bomber gunners claim 4-2-3 of attacking enemy aircraft. 

The third element is a combined force of 84 B-17s from : 94BG (21); 96BG (21); 385BG (21); and 388BG (21) were despatched to bomb the port area at Bergen, Norway. None of this force was able to bomb because the target was totally obscured by cloud cover. All returned to England with their bomb loads.

Mission Details

Description: PORT AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Target obscured by cloud cover.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 84
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 2

Description: NITRATE WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: This is the longest mission yet flown by the 8th Air Force (1,900 miles round trip) and the first to Norway. No fighter escort. Despatch from 92nd Bomb Group included one YB-40.

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1657 X 500GP
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People interned: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 180
  • Aircraft effective: 167
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 53

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Description: PORT AREA The target was briefed to members of the 95th BG as the heavy water plant at Rjukan Norway

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: All of these aircraft were equipped with long-range tanks and flew at low altitude until just off the Norway coast to conserve fuel.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 324 X 500GP
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 45
  • Aircraft effective: 41
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16060366 / O-665661
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735170
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot : Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32414759
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
Portrait of Gale Cleven, 100th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-399782
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5906) nicknamed "Sandra Kay". Printed caption on reverse: '61482 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sandra Kay". England, 11 August 1943. Front row, left to right: T/Sgt Herman J Ball, Milwaukee, Wisc; S/Sgt George R Martin, New Albany, Ind; S/Sgt Joshua M Lewis, Cumberland, Md; S/Sgt Otto V Kloza, Milwaukee, Wisc; T/Sgt Paul D Gomis, Reading, Penn; S/Sgt Fran
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-794117
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kathy Jane
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fast Woman
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 508th Bomb Squadron
Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza Vailable
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
42-29762 Coup de Grace with crew; Robert Elbert Smith (pilot) standing rear left, other crew unknown
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Coup de Grace
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
Contributorsimaguire
Changes
Sources

Ian L Hawkins (2005). B17s Over Berlin. Washington DC: Potomac. pp100.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of Trondheim element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to statistics of Heroya element per "The Mighty EIghth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.

VIII Bomber Command 75: Gallery (5 items)