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.