29 July 1943
Lt. Carroll Dayle Briscoe (306thBG, 369thSq) flying the "Carroll Jun," named after his daughter who was born in the middle of his tour.
Not yet known
The primary targets for this mission are the port facilities at Kiel, Germany and the Heinkel aircraft factories at Warnemunde, Germany. A combined force of 168 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 92BG (14 these included 1 Y-B40 gunship); 305BG (19); 306BG (18); 351BG (19); 381BG (24); 303BG (20); 379BG (19); and 384BG (17) are dispatcher to Kiel, Germany. 95 were able to bomb the target at Kiel, but 44 others (303BG; 379BG and 384BG) encountered cloud cover and smoke over the target and they ended up attacking targets of last resort. Also this formation dropped 767,000 leaflets over the city. A total of 4 B-17s from the groups that attacked Kiel Failed to Return (FTR) - 21KIA 21POW 1DIC. Another 2 were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) but these crews all were RTD. The bomber gunners in this formation claimed 33-2-29 of the attacking enemy aircraft; another 2 B-17s from the groups that were forced to divert to other targets Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 16POW. The bomber gunners in this formation claimed 13-4-4 of the attacking enemy aircraft.
A second element of a combined force of 81 B-17s from: 94BG (15); 95BG (8); 96BG (11); 100BG (21); 385BG (16); 388BG (10). 54 of these were effective on the target. 4 B-17s of this formation Failed to Return (FTR) - 21KIA 10POW 10RTD (Rescued by ASR). Fighter resistance against this group was light. The bomber gunners claimed 0-2-0 of attacking fighters.
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
B-17 Flying Fortress
Cloud cover at Kiel forces 44 of this formation to seek targets of opportunity.
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 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 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...
| Tonnage dropped | 107.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 56 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 44 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 7 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 4 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 16 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 13 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 4 |
NAVAL BASE
B-17 Flying Fortress
1 YB-40 Gunship from 92nd Bomb Group participates. Cloud cover frustrates bombing causing 44 to bomb targets of opportunity. This element also drops 767,000 leaflets. No fighter escort.
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 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 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 | 207.90 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 112 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 95 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 55 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 22 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 8 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 21 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 20 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 35 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 1 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 29 |
HEINKLE AIRCRAFT FACTORY
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
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 | 129.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 81 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 54 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 7 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 21 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 10 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 2 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 July 1943 in B-17 #42-29700 which crashed near Schleswig. Prisoner of War (POW). Original crew #8
No MACR found.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Evald Benson reported to the ETO on 4 April 1943. He flew as Co-Pilot on the Thomas Ledgerwood crew, but was flying with Berryman Brown when shot down. He completed 5 missions before being shot down on the 29 July 1943 Kiel mission in B-17 #42-5766....
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group on 15 Jan 1943. He was the 35th Officer to complete 25 missions. Reported on 05 Feb 1945 with the 2AF weather scouts. Retired as a Colonel from the USAF in 1972.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 12 August 1943 in B-17 #423231 'The Inferno. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 12 August 1943 in B-17 #423231 'The Inferno. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) crashed on 29 July 43 in B-17 42-29700 on mission to Kiel Germany.
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Major | Command Pilot, Pilot, Mission | 100th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 October 1943 in B-17 42-3233 'Our Baby', Prisoner of War.
...
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
Delivered Cheyenne 4/2/43; Pueblo 19/2/43; Salina 27/2/43; Syracuse 15/4/43; Dow Fd 18/4/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-S] Earls Colne 12/5/43; transferred 366BS/305BG [KY-L] Chelveston 14/7/43; severe battle damaged Warnemunde 29/7/43 with crew? (P)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 6/2/43; 94BG Pueblo 18/2/43; Salina 25/2/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-O] Bassingbourn 17/4/43; Earls Colne 12/5/43; Rougham 13/6/43; transferred 545th Bomb Squadron/384th Bomb Group [JD-E] Station 106, Grafton...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 12/2/43; Walker 23/2/43; Smoky Hill 28/3/43; Presque 8/4/43; Assigned 413BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 18/4/43 MOOR-FIDITE; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 532BS/381BG [VE-E] Ridgewell 16/7/43; Missing in Action...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne, WY 22/4/43; Smoky Hill, KS 28/4/43; Walla Walla, WA 7/5/43; Smoky Hill 25/5/43; Presque Island 6/6/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-P] Framlingham 5/6/43; 335BS [OE-P] Horham 15/6/43; 12m, Missing in Action Regensburg 17/8/43 with John...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Gore 9/5/43; Sioux City 10/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 1/6/43; crashed on take off for Bremen after encountering mechanical problems 13/11/43 with Bob Simons, Co-pilot: Alvin...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/2/43; 19/4/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-U] Molesworth 4/6/43; RWG Leon Kesky Killed in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43; 40m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44 with John Carothers, Co-pilot: Chas Frost, Radio Operator: George...
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 1/4/43; Dow Fd 13/5/43; Assigned 545BS/384BG [JD-S] Grafton Underwood 29/5/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Bill Kopf, Co-pilot: Alf Scott, Navigator: Toscha Massey, Ball turret gunner: Clyde Smith, Waist gunner: Leroy...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 3/4/43; Dow Fd 23/5/43; Assigned 545BS/384BG [JD-U] Grafton Underwood 29/5/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Drewry Wofford, Co-pilot: Bob Palton, Navigator: Malcolm McDonald, Bombardier: George Kyriakopoulous, Flight...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 31 January 2018 17:25:47 | william henry | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Correct typos |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 January 2016 19:39:16 | Mags | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 May 2015 18:39:48 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Warnemude element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 May 2015 18:38:25 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Kiel formation statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A> Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 May 2015 18:36:25 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to the statisitcs of the 44 aircraft that were diverted by weather to bomb targets of last resport per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Rober A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 May 2015 18:33:26 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 10-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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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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