VIII Bomber Command 78
28 July 1943
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
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.
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
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.
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
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 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794117
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
![Staff Sergeant Donald W. Crossley, a tail gunner of the 95th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/9/43.' A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse of print, this has been lost, however considering the publication date, press agency and subject matter this was likely to have read: 'AWARDS TO THE HIGH-SCORING GUNNER. The Distinguished Flying Cross and an oak leaf cluster- the equivalent](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379270.jpg.webp?itok=7S4HAZqB)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15107390
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734435
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734654
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-736487
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Meat ball / major ball
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Invader
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pistol Ball
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 511th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cherokee Girl
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Linda Ball
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Oschersleben statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Kassel statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War DIary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.