3 February 1944
Page 142 of the 401st Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
"A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 401st Bomb Group settles gracefully down to the runway at its home base in England after participating in a bombing raid over Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 3 February 1944."
8th Air Force mission 206; Wilhelmshaven; February 3, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron, CREW 70 . Personnel Log entry from my uncles journey ,
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 19, 3 Feb 1944, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Over 1,100 fighters and bombers participated in the attack on the great port and fighter base at Wilhelmshaven. The 401st emerged unscathed, and the results of bombing were good. This was the first Group lead for "Hi Ho" Silver, who later became Deputy Commanding Officer of the 401st. All aircraft down safely by 1540 hours.
Not yet known
The port area and Naval facilities at Wilhelmshaven, Germany was the primary target for this mission. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Divisions all participated.
1st Bomb Division: A combined force of 348 B-17s were despatched from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 401BG; and 428BG to bomb that naval facilities at Wilhelmshven, Germany. 306 were effective on the target with 1 bombing on Oldenberg, German as a Target of Opportunity. 305BG/422BS also dropped 1,800,000 leaflets. 2 aircraft Failed to Return - 13KIA 7POW. 27 aircraft returned with battle damage. 7 airmen in returning aircraft were WIA. The bomber gunners claimed 0-1-0 of attacking German aircraft.
2nd Bomb Division: A combined force of 193 B-24s were despatched but 140 of these were not able to bomb the primary because of cloud cover and were recalled before reaching the enemy coast. 53 others managed to penetrate as far as Holland and had changed their target to Emden, Germany, but these also aborted the mission over the Zuider Zee. 1 aircraft was destroyed in a crash upon return when it stalled on approach. 9KOM 1RTD. There were no other casualties or claims on enemy aircraft.
3rd Bomb Division: A combined force of 323 B-17s were despatched from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; and 447BG to bomb the naval facilitied at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 247 aircraft were effective on the target. The lead Combat Wing of this element turned to sharply at the Initial Point (IP) and 53 aircraft bombed the industrial areas of Emden Germany as a Target of Opportunity. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 20KIA. 20 aircraft returned with battle damage. 2 airmen were KIA and 2 were WIA in returning aircraft. There were no other casualties and no claims were made on enemy aircraft.
1,800,000 LEAFLETS DROPPED
B-17 Flying Fortress
Dropped by aircraft from 1st Bomb Division.
| Number of aircraft Sent | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 5 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
53 aircraft of the lead Combat Wing assigned to attack Wilhelmshaven as the primary turned too sharply at the Initial Point (IP) due to a Pathfinder (PFF) and navigational error, so bombed Emden as a Target of Opportunity.
| Tonnage dropped | 184.23 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 53 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 53 |
PORT AREA
B-24 Liberator
Only 53 of 193 B24s despatched manage to assemble and these abort the mission over the Zuider Zee because of clouds. 44th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group abandoned this mission because their Pathfinder (PFF) guide aircraft failed to take-off.
Group
The 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 53 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 9 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 1 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
| Tonnage dropped | 1.36 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 1 |
PORT AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
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...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 812.14 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 267 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 247 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 22 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
PORT AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Group
The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
| Tonnage dropped | 417.09 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 342 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 306 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 27 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 13 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 7 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 1 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Bill Trimble crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD)
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 95th Bomb Group
Damaged by fighter attacks on the return from a mission to Klein Machow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-31299 'Junior' maintained formation until finally crashing NW of Beilen, Holland after the crew baled out. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator; Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
DFC/ AM w/ 5 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Unit Citation w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
1 Damaged
Military | Chief Master Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Bill Trimble crew.
Awards: DFC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Post war: Served in Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 384th Bomb Group
B-17F #42-29717 'Mr. Five By Five' was last seen with one engine feathered and heading towards Switzerland on a mission to Stuttgart, GR on 25 Feb 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 3 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-37927. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down in a frontal attack by fighters on the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-31135 'Suzy Sagtitz' crashed near Schoonebekerveld, Holland. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G 42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 3 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-37927. Killed in Action (KIA).
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/7/43; Gore 6/8/43; Pendleton 12/8/43; Reno 14/8/43; Pierre 16/8/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 3/9/43; crashed on take off for France 13/8/44 with Leon Sutton, Co-pilot: Harlan Thompson, Navigator: George Healy, Bombardier:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43; Scott 30/9/43; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-U] Thurleigh 19/10/43; Missing in Action Wilhelmshafen 3/2/44 with Rich Wong, Co-pilot: Walt McBroom, Navigator: John Rogers, Bombardier: Curtis Dunlap, Radio Operator: George Collins,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43; Scott 20/10/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-K] Deenethorpe 11/11/43; Missing in Action Kassel 28/9/44 with Ed Aves, Co-pilot: Clayton Crunk, Navigator: Ralph Mezydlo, Bombardier: John MacDougall, Flight engineer/top turret...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/9/43; Scott 21/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-A] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; transferred 615BS [IY-A]; Missing in Action Munster 30/9/44 with Tom Davis, Co-pilot: Alan Newcomb, Navigator: Herb Corwin, Bombardier: Henry Kaczorowski,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43;
...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 26 January 2016 18:10:49 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Jan-2016. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to 1BD attack on Wilhelmshaven per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2016 18:07:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Jan-2016. Corrected statsitics of 3BD attack on Emden per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 January 2016 18:05:00 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to name and description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Jan-2016. Added Detailed Mission Despcription based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 May 2015 09:57:11 | jdossetter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thafhs.com/maps.php?lat=53.359&lon=7.21002&target_name=EMDEN... |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | 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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