VIII Bomber Command 77
26 July 1943
Back, left to right : Rudolph A. Thigpen, Victor Ciganek, Gerald H. Tucker, James A. Bowcock, Jarvis Allen, Albert T. Diminno
Front Left to right : Carl N. Smith, Jack A. Hargis, Capen R. Simons, William H. Turcotte.
Some men are still wearing the dry clothing supplied to them by the British Air Sea Rescue.
Détails about the men in the photo found by Victor Ciganek's daughter in the April 1985 issue of "The Ragged Irregulars" Newsletter.
Object Number - UPL 17142 - Photo taken 31 July 1943. Back, left to right : Rudolph A. Thigpen, Victor Ciganek, Gerald H. Tucker, James A. Bowcock, Jarvis Allen, Albert T....
Description
The German rubber industry at Hannover, Germany and the U-Boat shipyards at Hamburg, Germany are the primary focus of this mission. In addition, a German ship convoy and targets of opportunity at Wilhelmshaven and Wesermunde are bombed. The first element of 121 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 303BG (20); 352BG (24); 379BG (19); 381BG (18); and 384BG (20) are despatched to bomb the U-Boat shipyards at Hamburg, Germany. Cloud cover hampers bombing and 379BG and 384BG are unable to bomb. The 303BG lead ship commander of 303BG directs the remaining 15 B-17s in his formation (5 had aborted) to bomb the Neuhof Electric Power Station five miles from Hamburg. 14 bomb the power station, 1 drops its bombs on a boat in the Elbe river. Only 54 of the 121 despatched manage to attack. The bomber gunners claim 5-0-1 of the 20-30 attacking enemy fighters. 2 B-17s from 91BG Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 6POW 10 RTD (Rescued by ASR)
The rubber industry at Hannover, Germany, is attacked by two elements. The first of these is a combined force of 60 B-17s from: 92BG (19); 305BG (20); and 306BG (21) despatched to bomb the Nordhafen rubber plant. 1 B-17 from 306BG and 2 B-17s from 95BG drop on targets of opportunity. 49 others bomb the rubber plant. 6 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) and one was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) - 20KIA 24POW 30RTD (All rescued by ASR). 2LT John C. Morgan, 92BG/326BS is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on this mission, Ref. http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2899/morgan-john-c.php. The bomber gunners in this element claim 18-1-6 of the attacking enemy fighters.
The second element of the Hannover attack is a combined force of 61 B-17s from : 95BG (22); 96BG (18); and 388BG (21) are despatched to bomb the Continental Gummiwerke at Hannover, Germany. 96 of this force were effective on the target. 10 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR) - 34KIA 55POW 2DIC 10RTD (Rescued by ASR). The bomber gunners claim 22-8-22 of the attacking enemy fighters.
The 4BW force assembled for this mission had an additional 61 B-17 from: 100BG (20); 94BG (20); and 385BG (21) that were originally despatched to attack at Hannover, Germnay but cloud cover and smoke from RAF bombing raids the previous night obscured the target so these split off to attack Targets of Opportunity (TO's). 16 unloaded on a Germany ship convoy; 18 bombed the prot facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany; and 15 bombed aircraft factories as Wesemunde. 6 B-17s from this element Failted to Return (FTR) - 33KIA 18POW 10RTD (Rescued by ASR).The bomber gunners calim 15-1-7 of the attacking enemy fighters.
Mission Details
HAMBURG (Primary)
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: None of the 20 aircraft despatched by 384th Bomb Group are effective on the target.

- 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: 126.25
- People killed in action: 4
- Prisoners of war: 6
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 5
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 121
- Aircraft effective: 54
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
HANNOVER/ CONTINENTAL GUMMIWERKE FACTORY (Primary)
Description: Continental Gummiwerke rubber processing plant at Hannover.
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 2 aircraft from 95th Bomb Group drop 20 X 500GP on a Target of Opportunity.

- 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: 7.60
- People killed in action: 32
- People wounded in action: 8
- Prisoners of war: 19
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 22
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 22
- Aircraft sent: 61
- Aircraft effective: 44
- Aircraft missing in action: 10
HANNOVER/NORDHAFEN FACTORY (Primary)
Description: Nordhafen rubber processing factory at Hannover, Germany
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Continuation of Operation GOMORRAH. 8th Air Force targets are all military targets with care given to avoid any collateral damage to civilians. The raids sunk 180,000 tons of shipping, and it was estimated with post-war calculations that the raids on the submarine pens diminished U-Boat production by 26 or 27 vessels. No fighter escort. Despatch of 92nd Bomb Group included two Y-B40s one of which aborts. One 306th Bomb Group aircraft drops 10 X 500GP on a Target of Opportunity.

- 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: 206.25
- People killed in action: 11
- People wounded in action: 14
- Prisoners of war: 24
- People returned to duty: 30
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 18
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 6
- Aircraft sent: 60
- Aircraft effective: 52
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 86
WILHELMSHAVEN/ WESSERMUNDE (Opportunistic)
Description: SUBMARINE WORK PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 18 aircraft of 94th Bomb Group attack Wilhelmshaven, 15 aircraft of 385th Bomb Group attack Wessermunde, and 16 aircraft of 100th Bomb Group hit a convoy.
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg?itok=oPPVVi6c)
- 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: 53.10
- People killed in action: 41
- People wounded in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 19
- Aircraft sent: 61
- Aircraft effective: 49
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
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: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793713
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16066310 / O-735023
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-52478
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37264777
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner/Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36323929
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dixie Demo II
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Gal
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 366th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pie-Eyed Piper
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Various MACR
Lee Cunningham 9-May-2015. Corrected Event deails to rubber plant; Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to Hannover/Nordhafen statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-May-2014. Corrected Event details to Continental Gummiwerke; added bomber gunner claims on ene,y aircraft to Hannover/Gummiwerke statisitics, per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-May-2015. Added bomber gunners claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of the Hamburg element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 9-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary". Roger A. Freeman and the 303BG Mission Report http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/054.pdf; John C. Morgan CMOH from http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2899/morgan-john-c.php
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'.