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11 February 1944
![A bomber crew of the 527th Bomb Squadron of 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress 42-37805 FO-B “Carol Dawn” on 11 February 1944. The crew is possibly that of Second Lieutenant Glen R. Hufnail. Most of the crew in this photo were MIA on 2 March 1944 over Belgium.
Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944.
Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.'
Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-413520.jpg?itok=MLle6XTW)
A bomber crew of the 527th Bomb Squadron of 379th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress 42-37805 FO-B “Carol Dawn” on 11 February 1944. The crew is possibly that of Second Lieutenant Glen R. Hufnail. Most of the crew in this photo were MIA on 2 March 1944 over Belgium. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.' Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
A red flare from the control tower at Kimbolton, signals to a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses not to land as B-17 42-37805 nicknamed "Carol Dawn" has crashed due to landing gear failure, 11 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '11/2/44 raid. 379 BG? 8808.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Frankfurt Hit Again: Fourth Successive Day Of Big Attacks On Nazi Europe. Associated Press Photo Shows:- A red rocket fired from the contol tower warns incoming bombers not to land because Fortress Carol Dawn blocked the runway on landing with burst tyre - by flak. ASH 264769. 12-2-44.' Censor no: 304542. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 379th Bomb Group fly in formation on their return from a mission, 11 February 1944.
Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944.
Handwriten on reverse: '8868. 379BG.'
Printed caption on reverse: 'FrankFurt Hit Again: Fourth Successive Day Of Big Attacks On Nazi Europe.'
Associated Press Photo Shows:- Major Mason's group of Forts which led the raid pass over the field on their return. ASH 264780. 12-2-44-Y.' Censor no: 304534.
On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-413471.jpg?itok=xRmholpD)
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 379th Bomb Group fly in formation on their return from a mission, 11 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwriten on reverse: '8868. 379BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'FrankFurt Hit Again: Fourth Successive Day Of Big Attacks On Nazi Europe.' Associated Press Photo Shows:- Major Mason's group of Forts which led the raid pass over the field on their return. ASH 264780. 12-2-44-Y.' Censor no: 304534. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 23, 11 Feb 1944, Frankfurt, Germany. Captain Donald McCree led the Group to Frankfurt, the site of important aircraft and manufacturing plants. He reported a very successful mission, stating: "We could see the target area, and our bombs smacked right into it. The fighter support was superb." One aircraft (#026) landed at 1111 hours after being shot up by one of our own B-17's, running off the runway with a flat tire and all rudder controls gone. All other operational aircraft were back by 1555 hours.
Not yet known
This mission is composed of two separate elements. 3rd Bomb Division stands down having sustained massive losses of 29 aircraft on the previous day.
The first element is a combined force of 201 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; and 453BG despatched to bomb the V-Weaon sites near Siracourt, France. 4 groups using PFF equipment bombed the target - 94 aircraft effective. 4 other Groups assigned other targets in the area lacked PFF equipment and were unable to bomb. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 10KIA. 1 aircraft returning with a full bomb load crashed upon return and was declared to be Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). 17 other aircraft were damaged. 1 airman was KIA and 1 airman was WIA in returning aircraft. There were NO claims on enemy aircraft made by the bomber gunners in this element.
The second element was a combined force of 223 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division: 91BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 369BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 452BG were despatched to bomb the primary target of the railroad marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany. 157 aircraft were effective on the target. Cloud cover and smoke caused other formations to bomb targets of opportunity at Ludwigshaven, Germany - 32 aircraft effective; Saarbrucken, Germany - 19 aircraft effective; 4 others bombed other targets of opportunity. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 25POW 21EVD. 3 aircraft were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings and accidents upon return - 1KIA 29RTD. 26 airmen aboard retuning aircraft were WIA. The bomber gunners of this element calimed 3-0-2 of attacking German aircraft.
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 10.20 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 4 |
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
The marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany are the primary target, but cloud cover frustrates some groups from attacking this target and they divert to bombing other marshalling yards at Ludwigshaven and Saarbrucken.
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 482nd Bomb Group was a Pathfinder Group, which using radar-equipped aircraft to support bombing missions until March 1944. Aircraft from this Group went ahead of other Bombers and sent information back about the best routes to take and the extent...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 388.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 168 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 157 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 124 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 6 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 26 |
| Number of people Evaded | 21 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 25 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 35 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 2 |
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 98.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 32 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 32 |
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 39.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 19 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 19 |
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-24 Liberator
Siracourt is bombed by 94 of 201 B-24s using Pathfinder (PFF) equipment, the other More than 100 aircraft were to hit other targets without using Pathfinder (PFF) and were unable to find their targets.
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
Group
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group allocated B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 series fitted with a nose turret on the production line. The adaptation increased...
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 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the...
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...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Group
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne...
Group
The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...
| Tonnage dropped | 274.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 201 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 94 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 17 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 11 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. On 27-Jan-44, while taxiing after landing from a training flight, the landing gear switch of B-17 42-31414 was placed in the up position instead of the flap switch. RTD.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
T/Sgt Martin A. Anderson flew 34 missions, from 02/05/1944, mission #21, to 03/31/1945, mission #240. He served as a Radio Operator. He survived until the end of the war. Flew aircrafts 42-31521 'Badland Bat'
DFC
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down 28 May 1944 in B-17 42-31034 'Bonnie Donnie. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Captain | Pilot / Operations Officer | 446th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
Tail gunner, Laux crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS, 8th AF. Damaged by fighters on the return from mission #67 to the marshalling yards at Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944. B-17 42-31099 'Tenabove' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after the crew bailed...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Shot down 8 April 1944 in B-24 #41-28650 'Rooster', Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
322nd Squadron pilot John Boyce completed 30 missions on 'Dame Satan II' with the 91st Bomber Group and was awarded the DFC and Air Medal. Post war he worked as a plumber and was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Canton Blue Hillsmen, a barbershop...
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 446th Bomb Group
Flew 25 missions, ending just before D-Day. Flew on D Day just to see it. According to him, he never saw a German fighter but did see lots of flak.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Bombardier / L,R Waist Gunner, Nose Gunner / Togglier | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) in 42-31083; A/C exploded mid-air near Downham Market, England. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
RWG, Laux crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS, 8th AF. Damaged by fighters on the return from mission #67 to the marshalling yards at Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944. B-17G #42-31099 'Tenabove' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after the crew bailed out....
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 15/9/43;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/43; Scott 21/10/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-O] Deenethorpe 4/11/43; Missing in Action Merseburg 11/9/44 with Milton Wingard, Co-pilot: Bob Abresch, Navigator: Bob Sullivan, Tail gunner: Ed Chiariello (4...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/43; Scott 22/10/43; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 8/11/43; transferred 532BS/381BG [VE-G] Ridgewell 21/11/43; Missing in Action 8m Frankfurt 11/2/44 with Bob Laux, Navigator: Phlemon Wright, Bombardier: Judson...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 19/10/43; Gr Island 1/11/43; Memphis 2/11/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-E] Molesworth 18/11/43; ex-Frankfurt 11/2/44, with Howard Dahleen, Co-pilot: Chas Rice, Navigator: Russ Klingensmith, Bombardier: Ray Gauthier, Flight engineer...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/10/43; Gr Island 13/11/43; Romulus 25/11/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-K] Deenethorpe 14/1/44; Missing in Action Brandenburg 6/8/44 with John Sauerwald, Co-pilot: John Zimmerman, Navigator: Forrest Holmstrom, Bombardier: Cletus...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 12/11/43; Kearney 27/11/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-Q] Deenethorpe 1/2/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Jack Atherton, Co-pilot: Don Awalt, Navigator: Dick Fitzmaurice, Bombardier: John Whelan, Flight engineer/top turret...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 17/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Cincinnati 9/12/43; Rome 11/12/43; Presque Is 14/12/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-G] Deenethorpe 1/2/44; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/2/44 with Ed Gardner`found Pilz, near Gommern – bailed too low, 12/3/44`...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 6/3/43; Morrison 31/3/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-Y] Molesworth 2/6/43; Missing in Action Hanover 29/4/44 with Jim Fisher, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gus Johnson[body recovered from lake 20/5/44] (2 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 1/12/43; Gt Falls 5/12/43; Kearney 19/12/43; Romulus 18/1/44; Presque Is 20/1/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-L] Deenethorpe 31/1/44; Missing in Action Stettin 24/5/44 with John Whiteman, Co-pilot: Horace Shelton, Navigator: Seymour...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 07 February 2016 18:01:01 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Feb 2016. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to the Frankfurt element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 February 2016 17:58:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to name and description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
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| 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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