![B-17 Mother ship [L] follows within transmission range of Aphrodite drone B-17 flying bomb [R].](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-19801.jpeg?itok=BsaXsxMq)
Donald Aagesen
Military | Captain | Pilot/Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Donald C Aageson served as a pilot with the 303rd Bomb Group. He flew 29 missions.
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774
1 January 1945
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Crew #664 Elmo Maiden Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Bernard M. Atkins (TG), Vernon R. Hayden (WG), William R. Hoopes (B), Gustave J. Roussel (E), Guerino G. Petti (N), Herbert Rosenkoff (CP), William A. Thomason (TT), Elmo Maiden (P), Kenneth W. Chester (NG), Joseph R. Zebrowski (R/O) B-24J-5-DT #42-51532 Code: U8-W Photo taken on 27 December 1944 after crash landing at an airfield in Belgium.
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42-38014 Nose Art, LITTLE AMERICA II
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![B-17 Mother ship [L] follows within transmission range of Aphrodite drone B-17 flying bomb [R].](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media/media-19801.jpeg?itok=zYamF-mx)
B-17 Mother ship [L] follows within transmission range of Aphrodite drone B-17 flying bomb [R].
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An Aphrodite assault drone at takeoff from a relatively remote airfield in Norfolk, England. The drone carried a payload of 30,000 lb of Torpex, an explosive that was 50 percent more powerful than TNT by mass. Drones required a pilot and a co-pilot because the remote control system was insufficient for safe takeoff. NARA Ref partial 60799AC.
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8th Air Force mission 774; January 1, 1945; Dollbergen, Germany. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 189, 1 Jan 1945, Kassel, Germany. Briefing took place at 0450 hours, and by 0834 hours all operational aircraft were airborne. The two spares returned early as planned. By 1704 hours all but one operational aircraft had returned safely. That aircraft was thought to have landed in France. This was the sixth consecutive mission flown by the Group without a stand down. The three squadrons put up by the 401st made up the 94th Combat Wing "C" Group. Because the primary target, oil storage facilities at Derben, Germany, was obscured by clouds, the High and Low squadrons bombed Kassel by PFF (radar) techniques, with unobserved results. After attempting without success to make a visual run on the principal target, the Lead Squadron bombed railway yards at Els, Germany, by PFF, with strikes observed within the city. Flak was moderate, and 22 Group aircraft suffered minor battle damage. When the aircraft piloted by Captain E. W. Coleman was hit by flak, he was wounded in the leg by a piece of shrapnel and was forced to land in Belgium. His plane was badly damaged and was abandoned on the Continent. No enemy aircraft were encountered, as the Luftwaffe on this day made a last concerted effort to destroy Allied aircraft on the ground at their bases on the Continent. While this effort was successful in damaging many Allied aircraft, it resulted in the loss of many more German aircraft and pilots.
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.
Description
PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE MISSION
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
The P-51s escort 9 F-5s and 1 Spitfire on photo recon mission.
Mission Statistics
3.
Description
SCREENING MISSION
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
These B-17s fly a screening mission; they are 8 minutes late for their escort and are attacked by Fw 190s when 50 miles ahead of the bombers. Escort is supposed to be 23 of 26 P-51s but rendezvous is missed because of the missed timing of the screening bombers.
Mission Statistics
4.
Description
SPECIAL OPS MISSION
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
A mix of 25 P-47s and P-51s provide escort for 3 of 4 Mosquitoes on a special operations mission. Exact nature of mission expectations not given in available data.
Mission Statistics
5. ANDERNACH
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
6. DILLENBURG
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
7. DOLLBERGEN
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
A mix of 199 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
Mission Statistics
8. EHMEN
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
9. ENGERS
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
10. GOTTINGEN
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
11. HADAMAR
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
12. IRLICH
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
13. KASSEL/HENSCHEL
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
14. Kirchhundem, Germany
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
15. KOBLENZ
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
16. KOBLENZ
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
17. KOBLENZ/GUL
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
18. KOBLENZ/LUTZEL
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
19. LIMBURG
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
20. MAGDEBURG
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
21. OLDENBURG
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
This is an APHRODITE mission (388th BG). Success not given in available data.
Mission Statistics
22. REMAGEN BRIDGE
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
23. TRIER
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
24. WETTER
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
25. Wetzlar, Germany
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
Service
People
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Allan Ainley
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 x combat missions. Michael Kochel crew. ETD Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 x Battle Stars) -
Russell Albert
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Lewis Allen
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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John Althoff
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot, Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Glenn Amundson
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
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Howard Anderson
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Lowell Ankrom
Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier | 401st Bomb Group
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Allen Aschenbach
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
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Bill Basick
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 453rd Bomb Group
Mission 197 to Remagen in B-24 A/C #42-51865 crashed on takeoff, Killed in Action (KIA).
Aircraft
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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... -
42-102468 '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... -
42-107151 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)... -
42-30178 "Darlin' Dolly"
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Smoky Hill 5/5/43; Presque Is 24/5/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-S] Framlingham 29/5/43; Horham 15/6/43; with J.E. Koehler force landed Hardwick AF 20/10/43; 45m, transferred 388BG APH Knettishall 4/44; 803BS RCM Oulton 16/5... -
42-30237 'Stump Jumper'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 1/5/43; Gore 13/5/43; Smoky Hill 14/5/43; Dow Fd 30/5/43; Assigned 524BS/379BG [WA-V] Kimbolton 1/6/43; transferred 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 4/8/44; APH Knettishall, Crashed due to flak short of target [Oldenburg power station]... -
42-31072 Betty J.
B-17 Flying Fortress
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42-31485 Old Ironsides
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 11/10/43; Gr Island 21/11/43; La Guardia 29/11/43; New York 1/12/43; Presque Is 2/12/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-X] Deenethorpe 6/1/44; RAF Stornaway 5/4/44, ret grp 6/4/44; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 9/6/45; Syracuse 10/6... -
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...
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 23 January 2015 10:55:17 | Lucy May | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Changed location from 'KIRCHBUNDEN' to 'Kirchhundem, Germany'. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 January 2015 10:50:50 | Lucy May | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Changed location of Mission event no.25 from 'WETZLER' to 'Wetzlar, Germany'. |
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| 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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