24 March 1945
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 237, 24 Mar 1945, Twente, Holland. The second briefing of the day, for crews of the 12 ships scheduled to participate, took place at 1115 hours. The 401st put up a task force of 12 ships on this, the second mission of the day, in support of the Allied ground force crossing of the Rhine River, known as "Operation Varsity". The 401st task force flew as the High Squadron of the 94th Combat Wing Composite Group. Visual bombing was again possible, and results of the attack were excellent. No enemy aircraft were encountered, and the 401st contingent suffered only minor flak damage to four aircraft. All 12 ships were off by 1500 hours and had returned safely by 1950 hours
LEAD CREW (EISENHART CREW) 359TH BS, 303RD BG. 24 MAR 1945 LEFT TO RIGHT: Capt Ralph L. Smith (bombardier), 1Lt Marvin Grady Richeson Jr (copilot), Capt William E. Eisenhart (pilot), Capt George H. Counts (navigator)
LEAD CREW (EISENHART CREW) 359TH BS, 303RD BG. 24 MAR 1945 KNEELING LEFT TO RIGHT: Lt Louis T. Gennaro (navigator), T/Sgt Lyman E. Ela Jr (engineer), T/Sgt Joseph Vieira (radio), 1Lt Earl J. Malerich Jr (G H Navigator) STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Capt William E. Eisenhart (pilot), 1Lt Marvin Grady Richeson Jr (copilot), Capt Ralph L. Smith (bombardier), Capt George H. Counts (navigator), 2Lt William T. Burgess (tail gunner - observer)
8th Air Force mission 911; Varrelbusch; March 24, 1945. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
Ground crew of the 448th Bomb Group load up a B-24 Liberator with parachute containers for low level supply mission on 24 March 1945. Printed caption on reverse: '56806 AC- Ground crew technicians of the Bombardment Group, commanded by COL Charles B Westover of College Park, GA, load up a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in England with supplies to be parachuted to British airborne troops fighting on the east bank of the Rhine.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '448 BG b-24 being loaded
Wesel Supply drop 24 March 1945. 853rd aircraft over flying British troops in Operation Varsity.
Apparently this is not a photo of 'THE FLYING JACKASS', #44-40239, but is a later B-24L Model. Richard P Rice Crew (Training-September 22, 1944) Front L-R: 2LT Bob Hacker, 2LT Richard P. Rice, 2LT Bill Melaun Rear L-R: T/S Bob Dierks-Waist Gunner, T/S Jack Chapman-Nose Gunner, T/S Dick Rinto-Tail Gunner, T/S Dwight Hoff-Flight Engineer/Top Turret, T/S Ray Roberts-Waist Gunner, T/S Ray Snook-Radio Operator.
2nd Lieutenant Richard P. Rice
Lead Crew Commendation for the 24 March 1945 mission to Nordhorn, Germany for the John C. Welsh Crew 466th BG - 784th BS
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"8th AF Aided Paratroops
Having culminated its role in the Rhine crossing Saturday with blazing bomber and fighter sweeps up and down enemy territory, activities of the 8th Air Force fell off sharply yesterday as approximately 250 Liberators and some 250 Mustangs and Thunderbolts attacks three underground oil storage units near Brunswick and Hamburg.
"But on Saturday, the 8th put together a mighty procession of bomers and fighters which flew 3,000 sorties in cooperation with the troops streaming across the river. The bombers, which had been devastating enemy airfields east of the Rhine for three days, plastered 16 more and dropped weapons and supplies in a daring low-level operation to paratroops immediately after they had landed.
From dawn to dusk Thunderbolts and Mustang patroled the battle area, riddling troop concentrations, supply columns, rail yards and airfields. Only 66 Nazi fighters were met, an indication of the results of the bombers' relentless attacks on Luftwaffe fields, and 53 of these were shot down. The 8th lost 22 bombers and four fighters during the day.
Liberators which dropped supplies to airborne troops bore thhe brunt of
(Continued on back page)
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
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MARSHALLING YARDS
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These missions are escorted by a mix of 95 P-47s and P-51s. Mix not given in available data.
AIRFIELD
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B-17 Flying Fortress
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Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 37 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 0 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 0 |
AIRFIELD
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A mix 1,158 P-47s and P-51s fly area support for the bomber raids. Mix not given in available data. In AIRBORNE OPERATIONS the IX Troop Carrier Command dispatches 2000+ transports and gliders to drop and land the British 6 Airborne and the US 17th Airborne Divisions (plus artillery, vehicles, ammunition and other supplies) East of the Rhine River North and West of Wesel as the British 2nd Army and the US Ninth Armies cross the Rhine River to the NW and SE.
SUPPLY DROP (BRITISH)
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Supplies are dropped to British forces and US forces. Supplies are dropped from low altitude (300-400 feet). Losses are mostly due to small arms fire.
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Military | Chief Master Sergeant | B-17 Toglier in WWII; Aircraft Maintenance until 1967 retirement | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned Dec 1944. Flew 55+ missions in B-17 as togglier. Adcock grew up on a farm in Ellisville, Mississippi, USA. He was career Air Force, retiring in 1967 as a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSAF). Born 3/8/1924 Died 3/16/2017
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 21 x combat missions.
Awards: AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 37 x Combat missions. Carl Djernes crew. ETD
Awards: AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 x Battle Stars).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot, Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 446th Bomb Group
Assigned to 705BS, 446BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) in B-24 41-28814 Operation Varsity; shot down by ground fire at low level, A/C crashed near Wesel. Reluctantly baled out, chute not known to have opened. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 13537
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Military | Sergeant | Waist gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 21 x combat missions. Harry Ahlers crew.
Awards: AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
Our pilot, Bob Applin, was a natural leader and an excellent pilot. - Barky Hovsepian, R/O
Complete a 35 mission tour
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 446th Bomb Group
44-45. 30 missions ETO 8th AF. Last 13 as lead crew -- lead 8th AF on Wesel low-level supply drop 24 March 1945. Return to States as a captain after VE Day. Assigned to reserve, discharged 7 February 1980 as LieutenantC.
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator, Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Wesel with Crandell crew on JAG supply mission. Hit by ground fire, after dropping supplies, crashed into ground. 24-Mar-45 9 x KIA. MACR 13601
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Hunter 22/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-R] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; 111m, Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/2/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Grenier 20/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-H] Deenethorpe 13/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Hunter 7/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-C] Deenethorpe 3/5/44; 614BS [IW-S]; 106m, Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 7/3/44; Kearney 22/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-B] Deenethorpe 15/4/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Wendover 9/12/43; Grenier 20/1/44; Assigned 457BG Glatton 25/1/44; transferred 613BS/401BG [IN-J] Deenethorpe 11/3/44; Missing in Action Pas de Calais 19/3/44, force landed continent; Salvaged 1 SAD Troston 22/4/44; mission...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 31/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-P] Deenethorpe 15/2/44; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 1/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 15/1/44; Kearney 28/1/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-P] Deenethorpe 5/3/44; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 13/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 28/8/43; Scott 16/9/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG Grafton Underwood 7/11/43; transferred 547BS [SO-N]; transferred to 364FG Leiston, Sfk, UK. 11/43; Returned to the USA Bradley 14/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 17/7/45; Reconstruction Finance...
B-24 Liberator
Final mission was a cargo drop in support of Operation Varsity, 24 March 1945
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 September 2018 02:02:43 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to aircraft associations |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 02:00:48 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to description |
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Newspaper article |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 01:44:16 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 01:42:48 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to description and person associations |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 01:41:59 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 01:40:45 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 00:22:49 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to description |
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https://95thbg.mmsw.eu/crew/59 tied with news paper |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 May 2015 16:08:26 | jdossetter | Changes to event |
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/52%C2%B026'07.1%22N+7%C2%B023'50.2%22E/@52.4353,7.39728,4z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:13 | AAM | AAM 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'. |
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