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).
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789
10 January 1945
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Missing air crew report dated 15 March 1946 for missing aircraft 43-38668 on 10 January 1945.
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42-97521 JD-H, 'THE SAINT', 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. Forced landing on the continent, 10 January 1945 - Salvaged.
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8th Air Force mission 789; January 10, 1945; Karlsruhe, Germany. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 194, 10 Jan 1945, Euskirchen, Germany. Briefing took place at 0600 hours. Deenethorpe had been snowed in the previous day, but by working all night utility crews were able to clear the runway and perimeter track. At the briefing heavy emphais was placed on careful taxiing and wide intervals between aircraft. Notwithstanding the problems, all operational aircraft were off by 0958 hours. At 1220 hours a Lead Squadron aircraft returned early, with No 1 engine feathered, went off the runway momentarily but recovered. By by 1600 hours all but aicraft had returned safely. With snow and ice on the runway, it was difficult for pilots to keep their ships from sliding forward with brakes locked while applying maximum takeoff power. However, all of the Group's aircraft made it, clearing trees at the end of the runway by a matter of feet. The 401st, which put up three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "A" Group, was to have been led by Major Jere Maupin. However, when his ship was forced to abort, the lead was taken over by Lt. Louis Lawrence, flying Deputy Lead position of the Lead Squadron. Bombing was conducted by the Gee-H (radio beam) technique through heavy clouds. However, a break in the clouds permitted strikes to be seen at the northern edge of the target airfield and on the railroad and autobahn. Because of high winds, the High Squadron became separated from the 401st and bombed with another Group. No fighters were encountered, and flak was meager and inaccurate, resulting in minor battle damage to two aircraft. However, the ship piloted by Lt. R. B. Thompson lost two engines over the target and made a forced landing in Belgium. When he was unable to land on the runway of a small fighter strip occupied by a Polish RAF squadron, Lt. Thompson was forced to fly between two chimneys 120 feet apart, under an electric power line and over a house before crash landing in an open field. None of the crew was injured, but his airplane, "Hard Seventeen", was a total loss.
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. BELECKE
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
3. BONN/HANGELAR
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
4. COLOGNE
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
5. COLOGNE/DEUTZ
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
6. COLOGNE/GEREON
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
7. COLOGNE/HOHENZOLLERN
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
8. COLOGNE/OSTHEIM
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
9. COLOGNE/RODENKIRCHEN
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
A mix of 123 P-47s and P51s fly a freelance sweep to cover the bombers. Mix not given in available data. However they have claims as stated. 137 of 152 P-51s fly escort but have no claims.
Mission Statistics
10. COLOGNE/SOUTH
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
11. DASBURG
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
12. DUISEBURG
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
13. DUREN
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
14. DUSSELDORF
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
15. EUSKIRCHEN
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
16. EUSKIRCHEN/ODENDORF
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
17. GYMNICH
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
18. KARLSRUHE
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
19. NEUSTADT
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Fighter-bomber mission
Mission Statistics
20. OBERKASSEL
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
21. PRUM
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
22. SCHONBERG
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
23. STEINBRUCK
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
24. WEWELER
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
Service
People
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Russell Albert
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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James Allcroft
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator-Mechanic-Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Millard French crew. Completed 36 combat missions. Awards: AM (5OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EAME (3 x Battle Stars). -
Lyle Andler
Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
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Harry Arant
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 452nd Bomb Group
Was Pilot of B-17 # 44-8181 on 10 January 1945. From Roger Freeman’s “The B-17 Flying Fortress Story” : “Battle-damaged on return from Cologne / Köln mission 10 January 1945. On return approach crew baled safely, but a/c cr on Thorpe Abbotts bomb dump.... -
George Asprocolas
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 95th Bomb Group
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Robert Atkins
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Robert Atkins served as a tail gunner with the 733rd Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group, flying missions out of Old Buckenham, England. -
Dale Avers
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
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Philbert Azevedo
Military | Sergeant | Engineer, Top Turret Gunner, Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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William Barry
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) crashed near Prum in B-17 44-8216. Missing Air Crew Report 11578
Aircraft
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42-97194 Good Pickin'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/44; Kearney 24/2/44; Presque Is 11/3/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-O] Horham 11/3/44; with G.M. Jackman force landed B-53 Merville, Belg., 10/5/45; with Lt Henderson force landed A-70 Laon, France 20/5/45; 114m Returned to the USA... -
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... -
42-102659 '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
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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.
Revisions
| 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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