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.
We are currently working on a site-wide upgrade which will be completed in September 2022
You will not be able to search, add or edit information in the American Air Museum archive while this takes place.
You can find out more about our plans here
21 November 1944
Not yet known
Not yet known
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Not yet known
Not yet known
SCREENING MISSION
Not yet known
Not yet known
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
457th BG MISSION NO. 149: FRIEDBERG, GERMANY : 21 NOVEMBER, 1944
Although Merseburg was the briefed target, unfavorable weather conditions caused the Group to abandon the original plan and attack a target of opportunity. Major Syptak, Air Commander of the 94th A Combat Wing, led the Group with Captain Seesenguth as pilot, flying seventh in the Division formation, as briefed. Division assembly was loose, but the Group assumed its approximate position.
At the Dutch Coast, a significant amount of flak made it necessary for the preceding groups to "S" on course. The 94th A Combat Wing continued on its briefed course and advanced in front of its briefed position, becoming fourth instead of seventh. The course over enemy territory was flown approximately as briefed. Approximately ten minutes before the IP, the Group encountered cloud conditions extending up to 30,000 feet. The Group leader decided to get below the clouds. At approximately 21,000 feet, another group of B-17s coming from about 45 degrees "shuffled the deck".
The leader believed that all aircraft were now separated. The PFF equipment was not functioning satisfactorily and the operator reported it would be difficult to make the briefed mn. It was then decided to reassemble. The low squadron was not too far distant and assembled successfully. The high squadron, being separated, continued on its course toward the target. Although the primary target area was visible, weather conditions were extremely bad. Bombs were released. Results were not observed.
In the meantime, the other two squadrons began a search for a target of opportunity and deviated considerably from the briefed course. Bombs were released on Fnedberg, making an indistinguishable pattern 2,000 feet east of the marshalling yard located there.
Although flak had been encountered at the target, it was meager and inaccurate and no aircraft were lost. Flak was encountered at Cromer on the return to England; however, it caused no damage
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.
Group
The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Not yet known
Not yet known
OIL REFINERY
Not yet known
A mix of 177 P-47 and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
OIL REFINERY
Not yet known
Not yet known
AUTOBAHN
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
AIRFIELD
Not yet known
Not yet known
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
FLAK GUN BATTERIES
Not yet known
Not yet known
OIL REFINERY
Not yet known
Not yet known
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Not yet known
Not yet known
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Not yet known
Cloud cover prevents bombing of these targets
MARSHALLING YARDS
Not yet known
Not yet known
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 x Battle Stars).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 37 x Combat missions. Carl Djernes crew. ETD
Awards: AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 x Battle Stars).
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
S/Sgt Gail E. Anderson Jr was Tail Gunner on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Anderson and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
35 combat missions and 2 other missions7
Air Medal w/7 Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct, EAME Ribbon
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 398th Bomb Group
KIS
Attended Brackenridge High School in San Antonio.
Was a carrier (newspaper boy) for his local newspaper.
Buried in the Fort Sam Houston Military Cemetery in San Antonio.
Military | Technical Sergeant | B17 Engineer | 96th Bomb Group
Parents: George and Pauline (Matthias) Bachman they were married in March 1911
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Johnnie Bevilacqua was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Johnnie Bevilacqua and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but...
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 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...
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 21/4/44; Kearney 2/5/44; Grenier 26/5/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-S] 27/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman...
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 24/2/44; Gr Island 7/3/44; Grenier 5/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-J] Deenethorpe 2/5/44; 612BS [SC-O]; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 7/3/44; Kearney 22/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-B] Deenethorpe 15/4/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Paine Fd 28/11/43; Toledo 1/12/43; Felts Fd 4/12/43; Gt falls 5/12/43; Cheyenne 7/12/43; Kearney 19/12/43; Detroit 8/1/44; Montreal 10/1/44; Presque 12/1/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG Rattlesden 23/1/44.
...
Date | Contributor | Update |
---|---|---|
19 June 2018 13:53:02 | Richard412 | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
Denise "Flynn" Frohm - John's daughter |
||
Date | Contributor | Update |
29 April 2015 10:21:50 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
Sources | ||
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/ |
||
Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:43:08 | 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'. |