315
24 April 1944Added aircraft serial number and connection to record.
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUINTY
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Description: AIR DEPOT
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
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, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. Bombers also released 480,000 leaflets. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 31 - ERDING, GERMANY 24 APRIL, 1944 Luftwaffe installations, airdromes, and factories in southern Germany were the targets. The 457th was assigned the airfield and the air depot at Erding, a supply base for aircraft parts and equipment used by the Luftwaffe in the Mediterranean. The Group supplied twenty-four aircraft to fly the low box in the 94th Combat Wing. The formation was led by Major Fred A. Spencer as Air Commander and Captain Jerry Godfrey as pilot. Me-109s and FW-190s attacked the formation on the bomb run and after the bombs were dropped. After a quick rally of the formation with the Wing, the attacks ceased. No planes were lost; however, two planes received major damage, and one received minor damage. Flak at certain points along the way was moderate but accurate.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 443 T HE
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group. 1 3rd Bomb Division attacked Neckarsulm because the primary was obscured by smoke. Note in log of Horace Turner, "Raided Friedrichshafen-Bad formation, Flak was terrific. Flak hit me in leg. It was a long and tiresome mission. Bombed gear factory. Flak hit plane."
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 423 T HE 163T IB
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 4454th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group. The 44 Bomb Group was scheduled to participate but was grounded due to an outbreak of ptomaine poisoning.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 303 T HE 232T IB
Description: AIRFIELD
Description: AIRFIELD
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15334202
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/ Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 750th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17065626 / O-747333
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18190125
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-757575
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier; Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18157650
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Frostie : Mrs FDR
- Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little America II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: To Hell or Glory
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jean
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ten Aces
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
Related media
- Media Type: Document
- Collection Name: John R Pedevillano's records
- Object Number: Document 16976
- Description: Crash site of B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-31768 nicknamed “Miss Carriage”, shot down on April 24, 1944. The bombardier was Lieutenant...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 20777
- Description: Letter from J.H. Doolittle - May 1, 20144
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 53069
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No 55, 24 Apr 1944, Erding
Revisions
Updated mission pin from 'OBERPFAFFENHOFEN' (coming up in an incorrect location) to Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
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'.