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746

11 December 1944

  • The Leo Belskis crew : Top row, from left to right : Pilot Leo Belskis; Co-Pilot Glenn C. Vaugh; Navigator James V. Collett; Bombardier Ross W. Perrin Jr. Bottom, from left to right : Top Turret Gunner Walter R. Newman; Right Waist Gunner Durward V. Suggs; Tail Gunner Robert P. Rogers; Radio Operator Elvis A. McCoy; Ball Turret Gunner Lynn J. Lauret Jr. All except Mc Coy and Lauret were killed on the 11 December 1944 mission to Mannheim – B-17G Serial 43-38780 of 381st Bomb Group / 532nd Bomb Squadron. (Photo via the Perrin family).

    The Leo Belskis crew : Top row, from left to right : Pilot Leo Belskis; Co-Pilot Glenn C. Vaugh; Navigator James V. Collett; Bombardier Ross W. Perrin Jr. Bottom, from left to right : Top Turret Gunner Walter R. Newman; Right Waist Gunner Durward V. Suggs; Tail Gunner Robert P. Rogers; Radio Operator Elvis A. McCoy; Ball Turret Gunner Lynn J. Lauret Jr. All except Mc Coy and Lauret were killed on the 11 December 1944 mission to Mannheim – B-17G Serial 43-38780 of 381st Bomb Group / 532nd Bomb Squadron. (Photo via the Perrin family).

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  • Ross W. Perrin Jr (photo via his nephew, J. Ross Greene)

    Ross W. Perrin Jr (photo via his nephew, J. Ross Greene)

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  • Lynn J. Lauret Jr (photo Ms Bettye J. Lauret, sister)

    Lynn J. Lauret Jr (photo Ms Bettye J. Lauret, sister)

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  • Robert P. Rogers (Photo via the Perrin family).

    Robert P. Rogers (Photo via the Perrin family).

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  • Walter R. Newman (photo Perrin family)

    Walter R. Newman (photo Perrin family)

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  • Overall Missions Map for the 493rd BG - USAAF Station 152 -Debach, UK noting missions flown by the Lt Bernard E Vaughan Crew

    Overall Missions Map for the 493rd BG - USAAF Station 152 -Debach, UK noting missions flown by the Lt Bernard E Vaughan Crew

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Official description

Not yet known

Description

Not yet known

Mission details

1.

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

2. EUSKIRCHEN

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

3. FRANKFURT

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

This is the largest formation of bombers despatched to date - 1,586 bombers escorted by 841 fighters.

457th BG MISSION NO. 158 : FRANKFURT, GERMANY : 11 DECEMBER, 1944

Striking again at rail facilities supplying the German armies in the West, the 457th attacked the marshalling yards at Frankfurt. The formation of thirty-six craft comprised the 94th C Combat Wing. Captain Dozier was Air Commander and Lt. Seesenguth was pilot. Assembly was at briefed altitude plus 3,000 feet, because of clouds.

The route over England was flown above briefed altitude. While flying over enemy territory, the Group had to make slight deviations in order to remain in Division formation. The Group was about eight minutes early, because winds were not as briefed. At the IP, the Group was to the right of course, but a successful run was made. Complete overcast existed over the target area, and it was necessary to bomb in group formation by means of PFF equipment. Bombs were released from 25,000 feet.

Flak was light and the Group sustained no losses.

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.

  • 457th Bomb Group

    457th Bomb Group

    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...

Mission Statistics

4. GIESSEN

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

A mix of 349 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.

Mission Statistics

5. HANAU

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

6. KARLSRUHE

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

7. KOBLENZ

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

8. MANNHEIM

Description

BRIDGES

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

Mitchell Crew
MPI - R.R. Bridge over Rhine
Bombing Altitude - 21,800 ft.
Remarks: "Lousy weather all the way to target. 10/10 cirrus at target. Bombed G-H. Moderate flak at target but inaccurate on us-thank goodness. Results of bombing observed. Good escort. Saw "17" in our grp. go down from flak."

Mission Statistics

Tonnage dropped 2-2000 & 2-1000 G.P. by "Julie Linda" of 535th BG

9. MAXIMILIANSAU

Description

BRIDGE

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Service

People

  • Curtis Adamy

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 466th Bomb Group

  • Charles Aiken

    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).

  • Ora Akins

    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).

  • Lewis Allen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group

  • Glenn Amundson

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

  • Howard Anderson

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group

  • Leroy Andrews

    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

  • Lowell Ankrom

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier | 401st Bomb Group

  • George Asprocolas

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 95th Bomb Group

  • Dale Avers

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group

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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...

  • 42-102659 'Hard Seventeen', 'Hard Luck'

    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. ...

  • 42-102947 D-Day Dottie

    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...

  • 42-107047 The Doodle Bug

    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...

  • 42-107151 Cover Girl

    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)...

  • 42-31072 Betty J.

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    ...

  • 42-31591 Homesick Angel

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Wendover 9/12/43; Grenier 20/1/44; Assigned 457BG Glatton 25/1/44; transferred 613BS/401BG [IN-J] Deenethorpe 11/3/44; Missing in Action Pas de Calais 19/3/44, force landed continent; Salvaged 1 SAD Troston 22/4/44; mission...

  • 42-31662 'Fancy Nancy IV'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 2/12/43; Kearney 17/12/43; Romulus 6/1/44; Kearney 7/1/44; Memphis 9/1/44; Presque Is 10/1/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-B] Deenethorpe 31/1/44; 134m crash landed Polebrook 22/4/44, Salvaged 1 SAD Troston. FANCY NANCY IV.

  • 42-31730 'Morning Star', 'Tail End Charlie'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 10/12/43; Kearney 27/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner 15/1/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-B] Deenethorpe 31/1/44; 613BS [IN-O]; 112m, Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/6/45; 4100 BU Patterson 9/10...

  • 42-39993 'Hells Angels Out Of Chute 13', 'Grossly Inadequate'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Long Beach 26/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-C] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; 118m landing accident at base with Jim Nolan 7/5/45; sal 2 SAD Watton, Nfk 8/5/45. HELL’S ANGELS OUT OF CHUTE 13 aka GROSSLY INADEQUATE. ...

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Revisions

Date Contributor Update
20 February 2018 09:41:44 marshaferraro Changes to person associations
Sources

Personal list of 30 missions Lloyd C. Kenagy participated in with the 401st Bomb Group 613th Squadron between Aug 1, 1944 and April 11, 1945.
Date Contributor Update
19 May 2016 15:54:23 WWIIUSflyerfan Changes to event
Sources

Flight Diary of Jack A. Keating, 1st. Lt., Bombardier, 535th Squadron, 381st BG. I certify that I maintain the original diary and all information is a true and correct copy therefrom. Suzanne E. Keating 5/19/2016
Date Contributor Update
29 April 2015 10:41:34 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'.

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