VIII Bomber Command 78

28 July 1943
media-7141.jpeg UPL 7141 Ernest Dehotels - Paper Doll Pilot 42-3345

willdw, Lt Deshotels daughter and book Snetterton Falcons

Object Number - UPL 7141 - Ernest Dehotels - Paper Doll Pilot 42-3345

Description

The German aircraft industry at Kassel (Fieseler works) and Oscherleben, Germany are the primary targets of this mission. 182 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 92BG (17); 303BG (20); 305BG (21); 306BG (24); 351BG (21); 379BG (19); 381BG (20); and 384BG (20) are dispatched to bomb the Fiesler works at Kassel, Germany. Weather causes 155 aircraft to abandon the mission. Only 41 are effective on the target; 2 aircraft drop on Wetrup, Germany; 16 others drop on various targets of opportunity near Kassel. 7 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR) - 24KIA 47POW. 4 B-17s are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 3WIA 37RTD. The bomber gunners claim 27-15-22 of the attacking enemy fighters.

The second element is a combined force of 120 B-17s from: 94BG (18); 95BG (20); 96BG (21); 100BG (21); 385BG (26); and 388BG (14) were dispatched to bomb the AGO Flugwerke Fw 190 factory at Oschersleben, Germany. Weather frustrated bombing efforts and only 28 of this formation were able to effectively bomb the primary. 8 aircraft from 95BG attacked Grossalsleben by mistake through a gap in the cloud cover. A total of 15 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR); 7 of these were from 96BG. 90KIA 55POW 1DIC 5EVD. The bomber gunners claimed 56-19-41 of the attacking enemy aircraft.

Mission Details

KASSEL(Primary)

Description: FIESELER AIRCRAFT WORKS INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Bad weather hampers mission causing 155 aircraft to abort the mission. 49 hit Kassel, the primary, and 9 hit other Targets of Opportunity.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 109.00
  • People killed in action: 24
  • People wounded in action: 15
  • Prisoners of war: 47
  • People returned to duty: 40
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 27
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 15
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 22
  • Aircraft sent: 182
  • Aircraft effective: 58
  • Aircraft missing in action: 7
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 4
  • Aircraft damaged: 54

OSCHERSLEBEN (Primary)

Description: FW190 AIRCRAFT PLANT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 8 aircraft from 95th Bomb Group bombed Alsleben by mistake because of incorrect target identification through the clouds. None of 100th Bomb Group aircraft hit the target because of clouds. Only 28 aircraft hit the primary target. Deepest penetration to date. 105 P-47 with belly tanks escort. This is the first use of P-47 as long range escorts. Fighters from the 4th Fighter Group are the first to penetrate German airspace. Germans effective with A2A rockets. 2nd Lt. John C. "Red" Morgan (Co-pilot, 42-29802 "Ruthie II") 326BS/92nd Bomb Group is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during this action. 3rd CMOH awarded to a member of the 8th Air Force.

The wreckage of a B-24 Liberator (GO-K) of the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group that has crash landed. A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 100th Bomb Group is in the background.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 67.90
  • People killed in action: 93
  • People wounded in action: 11
  • People evaded: 5
  • Prisoners of war: 56
  • People returned to duty: 7
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 56
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 19
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 41
  • Aircraft sent: 120
  • Aircraft effective: 37
  • Aircraft missing in action: 15
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 64

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16051094
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6575918
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • 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: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36324682
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fifi | Old Battle Axe
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
The insignia of the 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Jimmie Boy
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: El Rauncho
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Gay Cabelleros
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortre
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Martha II, Lucky Lady
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date31 Jan 2018 17:23:34
Contributorwilliam henry
ChangesChanges to description. Changes to Media. Changes to Media
Sources

Correct typos

Date5 Nov 2017 12:53:40
ContributorCeesSteijger
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Typo

Date5 Nov 2017 12:30:21
ContributorCeesSteijger
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Mispellings and several errors.

Date10 May 2015 17:52:11
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to event
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Oschersleben statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date10 May 2015 17:49:46
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to event
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Kassel statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War DIary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date10 May 2015 17:47:42
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:17
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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 78: Gallery (11 items)