8th Air Force 920
31 March 1945
Elmo Maiden Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B), Gustave J. Roussel (E), Guerino G. Petti (N), Herbert Rosenkoff (CP), William A. Thomason (TT), Elmo Maiden (P), Kenneth W. Chester (NG), Joseph R. Zebrowski (R/O)
B-24J-5-DT #42-51532 Code: U8-W
Photo taken on 27 December 1944 after crash landing at an airfield in Belgium.
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
Object Number - UPL 6521 - Crew #664 Elmo Maiden Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B),...
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
ASCHERSLEBEN
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Description: OIL REFINERY
BRANDENBURG
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
BRUNSWICK
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: A mix of 253 of 266 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
ERFURT
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
GOTHA
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
HALLE
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
LEIPZIG
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
SALZWEDEL
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Notes: Primary – Oil plant about 20 miles west of Brandenburg. Secondary – Brandenburg (Marshalling yards in center of city.) Last Resort – Marshalling yards at Salzwedel (60 miles WSW of Brandenburg) The (primary) target wasn't visual, as per usual, so we proceeded to Brandenburg. I caught a glimpse of it thru the cloud. It looked like pretty nice country with plenty of lakes around. It's only about 20 miles from Berlin, too. We didn't lay any eggs there, however. We wheeled to the left & went on a NW course to hit the last resort.
STENDAL
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
WEIMAR
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
ZEITZ
Description: OIL REFINERY
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: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13172229
- Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-760834
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot/Element Leader (WWII); Pilot (Transport Command)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-703359
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-928692
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: ETO Happy : Pregnant Goose : Dollys Daughter
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lilly Belle
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 398th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Top O The Mark
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Briney Marlin
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Information taken from original, hand-written combat logs dated Feb-Apr 1945.
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'.