1st Air Division
Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
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4 April 1945
Not yet known
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BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
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ESCORT MISSION
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25 P-51s escort 8 F-5s and 2 P-38s on a photo and radar recon mission, they claim 1-0-0 aircraft.
SCOUTING MISSION
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AIRFIELD
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Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
Tonnage dropped | 39 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 13 |
AIRFIELD
Not yet known
Not yet known
Division
In December 1944, the 3rd Bomb Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
Tonnage dropped | 6.0 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 2 |
AIRFIELD
Not yet known
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Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
Tonnage dropped | 383.7 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 149 |
AIRFIELD
Not yet known
Not yet known
Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.
Tonnage dropped | 105.0 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 37 |
SHIPYARD
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Primary – Docks at Kiel (visual only)
Secondary – City of Kiel
We were to fly up the north sea and cutting west, hit land at [intentionally left blank] which was our I.P. and on the west coast of Denmark. From there the course was 102o to the eastern coast of Denmark and Kiel. The S-2 officer warned us to stay away from “the more accurate Naval flak.” He also said that there was a pocket battleship and other enemy ocean-going craft docked at Kiel. He also told us not to bomb the Kiel canal because it was being used by relief ships for Holland.
Tonnage dropped | 1497.5 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 505 |
AIRFIELD
Not yet known
A mix of 324 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data. The P-47s claim 14-0-20 aircraft and the P-51s claim 9-0-3 aircraft.
Tonnage dropped | 87.0 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 33 |
AIRFIELD
Not yet known
Not yet known
Division
In December 1944, the 2nd Bomb Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.
Tonnage dropped | 65.3 |
Number of aircraft Sent | 29 |
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
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"I just can’t remember the mission although i do have an air medal that’s dated April 5th and that aeroplane that’s cut in half we were flying a group ahead of that. Now that flight back there was Ed Chu’s flight and i always tried the best i could to get around some the facts on this. And i watched those jets come down to my right circle that group and shoot the hell out of them."
"..And one jet came right at us and we were flying in the low right what they call the coffin corner and that jet came at me. And as far as everybody in my flight knows i was the only one shooting at him. And to make a long story short it was posted on the squadron bulletin board that that was confirmed kill."
(Edward Paretti, 448th BG)
B-24 Liberator
I interviewed a small group of 448th veterans with an American friend during one of their last reunions in Orlando, 2007. Edward Paretti (NY) spoke of the above incident in which the group were attacked by jet fighters. It sparked an interest in the mission and encounters with jets and I tried to gather as much material as I could about 4th April 1945. Ed Chu was an asian-american who also served in the 448th BG. He was at the reunion but couldn't or didn't want to talk at that time. We wrote to each other after the reunion and he passed away a few years later.
If you want to get in touch you can find me here www.happywarriors.co.uk
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
Military | Captain | Pilot/Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Donald C Aageson served as a pilot with the 303rd Bomb Group. He flew 29 missions.
...
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Observer / Top Turret Gunner | 448th Bomb Group
Assigned to 714BS, 448BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Wessendorf in B-24 44-50838 'Red Bow' 4-Apr-45; A/C downed by fighters, broke up in flight near Lauenburg, Killed in Action (KIA), MACR 13730.
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 448th Bomb Group
Assigned to 714BS, 448BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Wessendorf in B-24 44-50838 'Red Bow' 4-Apr-45; A/C downed by fighters, broke up in flight near Lauenburg Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 13730
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator, Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Flight Officer | Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Member of Ford's Crew. Sgt Clarence Bailey flew 10 missions, from 04/04/1945, mission #241, to 04/20/1945, mission #254. He served as a Tail Gunner.
Military | Major | Navigator | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Colonel | Aircraft Mechanic, Instructor Pilot for B-24, B-17, B-25, Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Instructor Aircraft Maintenance | 351st Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | B-17 Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Frank Calicura served as a pilot with the 95th Bomb Group.
...
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 10/12/43; Kearney 27/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner 15/1/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-B] Deenethorpe 31/1/44; 613BS [IN-O]; 112m, Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/6/45; 4100 BU Patterson 9/10...
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-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 26/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-C] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; 118m landing accident at base with Jim Nolan 7/5/45; sal 2 SAD Watton, Nfk 8/5/45. HELL’S ANGELS OUT OF CHUTE 13 aka GROSSLY INADEQUATE.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Selfridge Fld 3/2/44; Dorval 4/3/44; Assigned RAF [HB-768]; transferred 561BS/388BG Knettishall 13/3/44; Missing in Action Parchim 7/4/45 with Lew Hickman, Arnold Wolf, Cawthorn Perdue, Albt Vawter, Herman Meyer (5 Prisoner of War); John...
Date | Contributor | Update |
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04 February 2020 21:26:13 | Al_Skiff | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
Added crew of B-24 44-50838 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 July 2017 03:16:35 | Virginiawise50 | Changes to person associations |
Sources | ||
Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, who flew on this mission as a pilot with Jack Q. Means as co-pilot. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
01 July 2017 18:34:44 | Virginiawise50 | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
Virginia Wise, eldest child of, Lester Allen Wise, B-17 (43-39056) pilot 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, who flew on this mission to Kiel from Great Ashfield, England, 4 Apr 1945 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
01 December 2016 23:50:36 | daveb@dalitech.com | Changes to event |
Sources | ||
Information from original, hand-written combat logs dated Feb-Apr 1945. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
04 February 2015 23:03:11 | bloodsweatflak | Changes to event |
Sources | ||
4th April 1945 |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
04 February 2015 23:00:09 | bloodsweatflak | Changes to event |
Sources | ||
Red Bow Incident |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
04 February 2015 16:17:59 | Emily | Changes to event |
Sources | ||
Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary, p. 479 |
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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'. |