VIII Bomber Command 80
30 July 1943
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 1269 - A Dutch soldier surveys the wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 381st Bomb Group that has crashed near Apeldoorn. First Handwritten caption on...
Description
The aircraft factories at Kassel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is flown by two elements of B-17s which attack 15 minutes apart. The firts element is a combined force of 119 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 303BG (23); 351BG (21); 379BG (24); 381BG (18); and 384BG (13) despatched to bomb the Bettinhuasen/Fieseler aircraft factory at Kassel, Germany. 94 of these aircraft are effective on the target. 6 B-17s Fail to Return (FTR)-21KIA 29POW 10RTD (Rescued by ASR) another 6 returned to England but were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR)-11KIA 49RTD 10WIA. This element was escorted by P-47s. Fighter resistance is fierce, the bomber gunners of this element claim 40-7-29 on attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element is a combined force of 67 B-17s from: 94BG (15); 95BG (6); 96BG (10); 100BG (17); 385BG (7); and 388BG (12) are despatched to bomb the Waldau/Fiesler aricraft factory at Kassel, Germany. 37 aircraft are effective on the target. 6 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR)-10KIA 34POW 1DIC 1EVD 9RTD (Rescued by ASR). This element is also escorted by P-47s. The fighter resistance is not as great against this element as they are attacking 15 miuntes behind the first element. The Bomber Gunners claim 8-6-3 of the attacking fighters.
Mission Details
Description: BETTERNHAUSEN FIESELER AIRCRAFT WORKS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 107 P-47s with belly tanks escort this mission.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 217.25
- People killed in action: 42
- People wounded in action: 10
- Prisoners of war: 29
- People returned to duty: 59
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 40
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 7
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 29
- Aircraft sent: 119
- Aircraft effective: 94
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 6
- Aircraft damaged: 64
Description: WALDAU FIESELER AIRCRAFT WORKS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 1 B-17 from 94th Bomb Group and two B-17s from 100th Bomb Group drop 16 X 250 IB and 20 X 500GP on Targets of Opportunity 37 aircraft hit the primary.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 83.25
- People killed in action: 10
- People wounded in action: 3
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 34
- People returned to duty: 15
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
- Aircraft sent: 67
- Aircraft effective: 40
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
- Aircraft damaged: 18
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: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18005077 / T-000290
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- 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: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39184316
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734654
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Dallas Rebel Poisonality
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron 509th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol Swayback, Moor Fidite
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Excaliber
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Coup de Grace
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Winsome Winn II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 11-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to the Waldau element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 11-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims against enemy aircraft to the Bettenhausen element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 11-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.
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'.