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8th Air Force 482

19 July 1944

  • Mission map for 8th Air Force mission 482 to Ebelsbach-Schweinfurt on July 19, 1944 from Harold Motz, navigator in the Westrope crew, 708th squadron, 447th bomb group Original map now in the collection of the Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.

    Mission map for 8th Air Force mission 482 to Ebelsbach-Schweinfurt on July 19, 1944 from Harold Motz, navigator in the Westrope crew, 708th squadron, 447th bomb group Original map now in the collection of the Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.

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  • Letter to the parents of 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Zemelman informing them of his status as missing in action on mission 153. He would later be confirmed killed in action, as were seven other members of his crew.

    Letter to the parents of 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Zemelman informing them of his status as missing in action on mission 153. He would later be confirmed killed in action, as were seven other members of his crew.

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  • Telegram to the parents of 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Zemelman dated September 8, 1944 informing them he was confirmed killed in action on July 19, 1944.

    Telegram to the parents of 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Zemelman dated September 8, 1944 informing them he was confirmed killed in action on July 19, 1944.

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  • 8th Air Force mission 482; Ebelsbach (Eberbach?), Germany; July 19, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

    8th Air Force mission 482; Ebelsbach (Eberbach?), Germany; July 19, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

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Official description

More than 1,100 Heavy Bombers, operating in 5 forces, attack targets in Germany, including 2 plants producing hydrogen peroxide (an ingredient in V-weapon fuels), a chemical plant, 2 aircraft factories, 4 ball bearing plants, 6 Marshalling Yards, 4 Airfields, and a river dam. Attacks in the Munich area are followed, within 90 minutes, by Fifteenth AF attacks. ...15 Heavy Bombers ... The Heavy Bombers claim destruction of 6 aircraft.

Description

Schweinfurt, Germany ball bearing plant was the target. Hit by flak and fell behind formation at 8:45 am above Aachen, Germany and crashed at Haren, Belgium at 10:06 am in the air district.

Mission details

1.

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 2 T
Number of people Killed In Action 10
Number of people Interned 10

2.

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 3.2 T

3.

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 5.2 T

4.

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 61.9 T

5. AUGSBURG (Primary)

Description

AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 274.7 T

6. BADEN-BADEN (Opportunistic)

Description

TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 22.5 T

7. BOBLINGEN (Opportunistic)

Description

AIRFIELD

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 137.4 T

8. DARMSTADT (Opportunistic)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 30.9 T

9. DAUN (Opportunistic)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 27.5 T

10. DUREN (Opportunistic)

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 39 T

11. EBELSBACH (Primary)

Description

BALL BEARING PLANT

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Units

  • 3rd Bomb Division

    3rd Bomb Division

    Division
    The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 129 T

12. GERMUNDEN (Opportunistic)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 33.6 T

13. HOLLISRIEGEL-SKREUTH (Primary)

Description

AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 15th AF follows attacks in the Munich area by 90 minutes.

Units

  • 1st Bomb Division

    1st Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 1st Bomb Wing came under the command of the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 269.3 T

14. KARTHAUS (Opportunistic)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 31.5 T

15. KEMPTEN (Primary)

Description

AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group.

Units

  • 2nd Bomb Division

    2nd Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 152.8 T

16. KOBLENZ (Opportunistic)

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 233 T

17. KOBLENZ (Opportunistic)

Description

TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 2.6 T

18. LAUPHEIM (Primary)

Description

AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 107 T

19. LAUPHEIM (Primary)

Description

AIRFIELD

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 114.9 T

20. LECHFELD (Primary)

Description

AIRFIELD

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 214.6 T

21. NEUNKIRCHEN (Opportunistic)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 31.5 T

22. SAARBRUCKEN (Primary)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-24s is 34th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group 2nd Bomb Division 448th Bomb Group also participates in this force.

July 19 – Target: Saarbrucken and Konz Karthaus, Germany. Thirty-eight aircraft from the 34th Bomb Group were dispatched on this mission but four were forced to abort. The mission was composed of nearly 200 bombers from different units targeting the railroad marshalling yards at Saarbrucken. Twenty of the Group’s aircraft released 55.8 tons of bombs on the primary and eleven 34th Bomb Group B-24’s dropped 31.5 tons on the secondary target. Hells Belle was lost on this mission while being flown by a crew from the 18th Bomb Squadron. This was the twenty-fourth combat mission for the Hells Belle. It was reported that the aircraft was destroyed when it collided with another B-24 enroute from the IP to target. However, years later, German AAA records and a diary recovered in 1990 revealed that the Hells Belle was probably hit by German flak and it collided with a B-24 from the 18th Bomb Squadron (Ann, # 42-51190) as it tumbled out of control. Combat records indicate that nineteen aircrew members died as a result of the crash and two members of the Ann survived and were taken prisoner.

Additionally, the Tondelayo (#44-40284) from the 391st Bomb Squadron was hit by flak about one minute after releasing its bombs. Although all the controls were damaged, the pilot managed to fly the aircraft westward toward the coast of France where three crew members parachuted from the damaged bomber over Dieppe. The remaining crew managed to get the aircraft back to England where they bailed out before the bomber crashed near Lympne Airfield. Unfortunately the three aircrew members that bailed out over Dieppe were reported as Killed in Action (KIA).

Units

  • 3rd Bomb Division

    3rd Bomb Division

    Division
    The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 270 T

23. SCHWEINFURT (Primary)

Description

BALL BEARING PLANT

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

Richard O. Smith's crew flew this mission. His craft was hit by flak and left formation at 8:45 am over Aachen, Germany. Crashed at 10:06 am at Haren, Belgium. Plane was listed as 100% crash and entire crew KIA.

Units

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 0 T

24. STRASBOURG (Primary)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 207.5 T

25. ULM (Opportunistic)

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 13.6 T

Service

People

  • Jack Agee

    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. ...

  • Paul Akin

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Crew Number 68

  • Arne Anderson

    Military | Engineer/Top Turret | 390th Bomb Group
    Crew Number 14

  • William Atkinson

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group

  • Thomas Barton

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
    newly assigned May 1944

  • Clark Benington

    Military | B-17 Pilot | 96th Bomb Group

  • Gilbert Borba

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
    Sgt Gilbert A. Borba, only survivor, all other crew were Killed in Action (KIA) 08-08-1944 Shot down by flak and crashed near St Sylvain, France in B-17 "Varga Venus" #4337865

  • Robert Boudon

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 334BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

  • George Brand

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
    2nd Lt George C Brand flew 34 missions with the 401st Bomb Group, from 6 July 1944, mission to 30 October 1944. Brand was French, but enlisted in the US Army Air Forces,

  • William Brice

    Military | Major | Bombardier
    My father flew 29 missions with the James S. Seamans' Crew. The nickname for the crew was Seamans' Demons. He was lead bombadier on several if not most missions. He was a good man whom I loved very much. He told me stories of his missions and escapades...

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Aircraft

  • 42-102393 Diana Queen Of The Chase

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Hunter 22/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-R] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; 111m, Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal...

  • 42-102398 Dynamite John

    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...

  • 42-102435 Double Wallop

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 3/3/44; Dorval 10/3/44; Assigned RAF [HB784]; transferred USAAF 31/3/44; Assigned 562BS/388BG [B] Knettishall 1/7/44; Missing in Action Munich 31/7/44 with Jim Crider, Co-pilot: Fred Gordon, (no Nav), Bombardier: Bill Stewart, Flight...

  • 42-102468 'Farmer's Daughter'

    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...

  • 42-102674 Packawalup III

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 25/3/44; Kearney 12/4/44; Grenier 29/4/44; Assigned 94BG Rougham 1/5/44; transferred 615BS/401BG [IY-M] Deenethorpe 19/5/44; battle damaged Frankfurt 5/11/44, force-landed at Great Dunmow, U.K. after sustaining extensive battle...

  • 42-107062 Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 9/2/44; Rapid City 2/3/44; Dow Fd 3/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 25/4/44; no ops, transferred 562BS/388BG Knettishall 29/4/44 WORRY BIRD; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 29/11/45;...

  • 42-107084 'Betty's Revenge'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 16/2/44; Kearney 22/3/44; Grenier 3/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-G] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; Missing in Action Politz, Poland 7/10/44 with Alex Harasym, Clarry Barsuk, Glen Topic, Jarvis Friduss, Emanuel Saylor, John Bailey, George Capps ...

  • 42-107092 'Freckles', 'Umbriago'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 17/2/44; Kearney 22/2/44; Grenier 6/3/44; Assigned 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 13/3/44; transferred 615BS/401BG [IY-E] Deenethorpe 23/3/44 FRECKLES!; Missing in Action Munich 31/7/44 with Jay Ossiander, Co-pilot: Roy Cooper, Navigator:...

  • 42-31087 'Heaven Can Wait', 'Boche Buster'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/43; Gt Falls 28/9/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-K] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; Missing in Action Politz 7/10/44 with Tom Hill, Wilbur Schmedel, Theo Block, Junius Chadwick, Jim Mullins, Vic Shewbert, Ed Hellenbeck, Buddy Keith, Omer...

  • 42-31410 Berlin Bessie, I Dood It

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 31/10/43; Kearney 13/11/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-G] Horham 1/1/44; flak damage Berlin 6/10/44 with Lester Lennox, Co-pilot: Bob McCoy (2 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Bill Tate, Bombardier: Dick White, Flight engineer/top turret...

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Revisions

Date Contributor Update
12 December 2018 16:23:50 Emily Changes to official description
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology
Date Contributor Update
29 July 2017 03:12:27 nieceBarb Changes to event
Sources

Niece of pilot.
Date Contributor Update
29 July 2017 03:04:51 nieceBarb Changes to name and description
Sources

Barbara Smith, niece of pilot.
Date Contributor Update
25 January 2017 19:38:13 cmckeever Changes to description and person associations
Sources

Daughter - Carol Rollinger McKeever
Date Contributor Update
03 November 2016 11:35:48 Lucy May Changes to name
Sources

Corrected the number of the mission from '153' back to its 8th Air Force number of '482'. I think user 'nieceBarb' changed the mission number to fit with the records of her uncle Richard Oliver Smith.
Date Contributor Update
24 April 2015 21:30:14 JasonR Changes to event
Sources

Taken from "34th Bomb Group Mission Summary: May-August 1944" from colbobsimpson.com
Date Contributor Update
07 January 2015 14:39:59 Lucy May Changes to event
Sources

Changed unit connection on mission event no. 23 to 359th Bomb Squadron.
Date Contributor Update
06 January 2015 22:01:40 nieceBarb Changes to name
Sources

Niece Barbara Smith
Date Contributor Update
06 January 2015 22:01:04 nieceBarb Changes to event
Sources

Niece Barbara Smith.
Date Contributor Update
28 December 2014 01:26:29 nieceBarb Changes to event
Sources

Barbara Smith, niece.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:43:07 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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