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20 July 1944
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st Bomb Group, including (RQ-P, serial number 42-97193) and (serial number 43-37920) fly through flak bursts during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thoison '557' took pic 20/7/44. Star Duster DS-L MIA 6/8/44.'
Mission map for 8th Air Fordce mission #484 to the Leuna works at Merseburg on July 20, 1944; from Harold Motz, navigator for the Westrope crew, 708th squadron, 447th bomb group, based in Rattlesden, UK. Original map now in the collection of the Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.
The Military Service Record for Philip G. Rodgers Showing His Completion Of 30 Missions As Well As The Awards He Received
Mission list kept by 2nd Lt. Donald Muckerman of the 8th Airforce, 305th Bomb Group, 422nd Squadron (front)
8th Air Force mission 484; July 20, 1944; Merseburg. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
The Liberty Run (42-102509 LL A), 1st Lt. William T. Hanna and crew (with 3 ground crew) 401st Squadron. 91st BG
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A rough one. Bombed an oil refinery near Leipzeig. Flak put several holes in the plane; ine in number 3 gas tank. Came back on 3 engines.
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
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| Tonnage dropped | 17.5 T |
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
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| Tonnage dropped | 18 T |
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
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| Tonnage dropped | 42.6 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 31.2 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 29.5 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 27 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 26.9 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 18 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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OPERATION GOODWOOD undertaken by Lieutenant-General Sir Richard O'Conners VIII Corps ends unsuccessfully. The objective was to attack SSE of Caen and capture the bridge at Bourguebus. The area was heavily defended by German Panzer units The British armour, denied infantry support, was massacred by the 88mm guns of the German Tiger tanks. Over 400 British tanks were destroyed. However, the attack did shift the German's attention away from the St. Lo sector on the German left flank which will aid the American's OPERATION COBRA to be more successful. British GEN Montgomery, after the war, explained that it was always his plan for the British to draw German resistance in the Caen sector to enable the Americans to break out on the right. Also, all 8th Air Force flight crews will be reduced to 9-man crews for the remainder of the war. Some crews new to the theater will fly 10-man crews. The reduction is one waist gunner.
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 398th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire on strategic bombing raids over Germany. The Group switched focus in the days before D-Day, when they targeted enemy positions on the Cherbourg peninsula. When the Allies...
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 | 253 T |
AIRFIELD
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2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491 Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group
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.
| Tonnage dropped | 312.3 T |
AIRFIELD
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| Tonnage dropped | 29 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 62 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 50 T |
AIRFIELD
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| Tonnage dropped | 21.7 T |
AIRCRAFT FACTORY
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| Tonnage dropped | 197.3 T |
MARSHALLING YARDS
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| Tonnage dropped | 27 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 35.5 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 17 T |
AIRFIELD
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| Tonnage dropped | 57.5 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 164.5 T |
BALL BEARING PLANT
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| Tonnage dropped | 97.7 T |
OIL REFINERY
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| Tonnage dropped | 124.7 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 129.5 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group. 96th Bomb Group stands down.
Division
The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
| Tonnage dropped | 374 T |
AIRFIELD
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| Tonnage dropped | 90 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 23.1 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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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, 493rd Bomb Group. Number despatched, number successful and bomb tonnage not given in source data. Numbers listed are estimates by the author. Loss and DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR (DBR) data confirmed.
Division
The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
| Tonnage dropped | 250 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 245.9 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 28 T |
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
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| Tonnage dropped | 117 T |
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 100th Bomb Group
Louis Abromowitz was First Navigator on B-17 42-97564 when it was shot down on the 20 July 1944 mission to Merseburg and the plane had to make a forced landing near Chaam, Holland. Like 4 other crew members, Abromowitz managed to evade capture, with...
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.
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 68
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 94th Bomb Group
Flew 26 missions on 'Mission Bell', was wounded on 26th mission.
Purple Heart, 4 Air Medals
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 605BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Damaged by flak and landed in Switzerland on 31-Jul-44 in B-17 42-107092 'Umbriago' Interned (INT)
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Prisoner of War (POW). Shot down by fighters and crashed near Chemnitz-Borna on 20 July 1944 in B-17 "Destiny's Child" #42-31812. MACR 7281. (See note on the Aircraft Biography page)
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Navigator
Lt George Bonitz was 2nd Navigator on the Merseburg mission of 20 July 1944, on board B-17 #42-97564. Hit by Flak, the plane made a forced landing between Chaam and Baarle-Hertog, South of Tilburg, The Netherlands. Evaded (EVD). Helped by Dutch and...
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
Military | Captain | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 334BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF.
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
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...
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...
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...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Grenier 15/5/44; Assigned 447BG Rattlesden 16/5/44; transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-J] Deenethorpe 30/5/44; Salvaged 10/1/45.
...
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...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 25/1/44; Kearney 16/2/44; Grenier 10/3/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-F] Deenethorpe; on return from mission 12 May 1944 with Lt J.C. Sharp, Waist gunner: Alfred A. Tomkinson (KIA- flak hit - died in in base hospital).
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 6/2/44; Grenier 3/3/44; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-M] Horham 17/3/44; with R.V. Mercer force landed Framlingham AFB 25/12/44 with engine failure; battle damaged Berlin 3/2/45 with H. Palmer; force landed Charleroi, Bel; 97m, repaired & ret...
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:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Dallas 8/9/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-F] Deenethorpe 10/10/43; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/7/44 with Kenneth R Murgatroyd, James E Pennoyer, James K Elderkin, Stanley Lesser, Jerome P Robertson, Howard N Magnuson (6 Prisoner of War); Owen...
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 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...
Crash site
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 January 2017 19:42:20 | cmckeever | Changes to description and person associations |
| Sources | ||
Daughter - Carol Rollinger McKeever |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 14:02:37 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary. |
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| 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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