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798

17 January 1945

  • My Dad, Karl Eisele, Jr. and Mom (Janet Eisele) marrying in Boise, Idaho as Dad was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho shortly before going to England to bomb the Reich.

    My Dad, Karl Eisele, Jr. and Mom (Janet Eisele) marrying in Boise, Idaho as Dad was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho shortly before going to England to bomb the Reich.

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  • Karl Eisele, Jr. 2nd Lieutenant, 8th AF, 93rd BG, 409th BS/329th BS. Stationed in Hardwick, England.

    Karl Eisele, Jr. 2nd Lieutenant, 8th AF, 93rd BG, 409th BS/329th BS. Stationed in Hardwick, England.

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  • Karl Eisele, Jr. in internment in Sweden at Hummlebacken, near Falun, Sweden. On his 20th mission (over Hamburg), the “Full House” had been hit by flak. 2 engines were damaged, and the pilot flew to the Bulltofta airfield near Malmo, where they crash landed. The co-pilot’s back was broken in the landing, and he died the next day. The rest of the crew were kept in Hummlebacken from that time (Jan. 1945) until Germany surrendered (May 1945).

    Karl Eisele, Jr. in internment in Sweden at Hummlebacken, near Falun, Sweden. On his 20th mission (over Hamburg), the “Full House” had been hit by flak. 2 engines were damaged, and the pilot flew to the Bulltofta airfield near Malmo, where they crash landed. The co-pilot’s back was broken in the landing, and he died the next day. The rest of the crew were kept in Hummlebacken from that time (Jan. 1945) until Germany surrendered (May 1945).

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  • From the book, _____Making For Sweden_

    From the book, _____Making For Sweden_

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  • From the book _Making for Sweden_

    From the book _Making for Sweden_

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  • 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 197, 17 Jan 1945, Paderborn, Germany. Group briefing took place at 0600 hours. Aircraft were loaded with six 1,000 pound bombs and 2,600 gallons of gas. By 1020 all operational aircraft were airborne, and the three spares landed early as planned. At 1445 one ship reurned with a broken propeller shaft. By 1624 all operational aircraft had returned. The 401st furnished the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing

    401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 197, 17 Jan 1945, Paderborn, Germany. Group briefing took place at 0600 hours. Aircraft were loaded with six 1,000 pound bombs and 2,600 gallons of gas. By 1020 all operational aircraft were airborne, and the three spares landed early as planned. At 1445 one ship reurned with a broken propeller shaft. By 1624 all operational aircraft had returned. The 401st furnished the three squadrons making up the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group on this mission. Because a solid undercast prevented bombing the primary target at Altenberken, the Group bombed rail facilities at Paderborn. As a result of a Gee-H malfunction, bombing was conducted by the PFF (radar) method, with unobserved results. No enemy aircraft and no flak were encountered--a "milk run" for the crews.

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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. BIELEFELD/SCHILDESCHE

Description

RAIL VIADUCT

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

3. BOKUM

Description

AIRFIELD

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

4. HAMBURG

Description

SUBMARINE PENS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

5. HAMBURG/ALBRECHT

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

6. HAMBURG/RHENANIA

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

A mix of 61 P-47s and P-51s escort. Mix not given in available data.

Mission Statistics

7. HARBURG/RHENANIA

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

8. PADERBORN

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

457th BG MISSION NO. 175 : PADERBORN, GERMANY : 17 JANUARY, 1945

The 457th comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Lt. Cot. Francis as Air Commander for the Group and the 1st Division's A formation. The primary target was communication centers in Altenbeken.

Combat Wing assembly was accomplished without incident. The Group Leader, having noted bad weather conditions, continued to climb above briefed altitude before reaching the first Control Point.

Division assembly line was flown approximately as briefed. Over the Channel, the formation encountered increasingly difficult weather conditions, which continued from this point to the IP. Course was flown approximately as briefed except for slight deviations to the right and left.

The IP was crossed approximately on course. The G-H equipment malfunctioned on the bomb run and lead was turned over the PEF aircraft after the formation had passed over the primary target. A 360 degree turn to the left was executed and a run in Group formation was made on railway workshops at Paderborn, the secondary target, located halfway between Munster and Kassel. The formation, in the process of turning, was too close to Paderborn for the PFF equipment to pick up the city for a normal PFF run.

Bombs were released on the smoke markers of preceding groups. Cloud coverage was ten tenths and visibility was about three miles. Results were unobserved due to cloud coverage. Flak was moderate with three craft sustaining damage.

Units

  • 1st Air Division

    1st Air Division

    Division
    In December 1944, the 1st Bomb 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

Service

People

  • Jesse Adcock

    Military | Chief Master Sergeant | B-17 Toglier in WWII; Aircraft Maintenance until 1967 retirement | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned Dec 1944. Flew 55+ missions in B-17 as togglier. Adcock grew up on a farm in Ellisville, Mississippi, USA. He was career Air Force, retiring in 1967 as a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSAF). Born 3/8/1924 Died 3/16/2017

  • 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).

  • Russell Albert

    Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret 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

  • Lyle Andler

    Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group

  • Lowell Ankrom

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier | 401st Bomb Group

  • Lewis Carter

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Counter Measures/Right Waist Gunner | 452nd Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) crashed near Zwickau on 19 Mar 45 in B-17 'Daisey Mae' #4338368

  • Richard Dillon

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
    Flew 25 missions, 1 to Berlin and 3 to Merseberg. Was lead navigator for last 6 missions Air Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Cluster; EAME ribbon w 3/battle stars Passed away 25-June-2017, buried in Columbia SC

  • Karl Eisele

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier; Pathfinder Navigator | 93rd Bomb Group
    Initially on B-24 42-95024, the “Gypsy Queen” piloted by Leo Baumann. After its crash, reassigned to other planes. On the 20th mission in January 1945, plane was hit by flak and landed in Sweden. Interned in Sweden until 8 May 1945. B-24 42-51523, the...

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Aircraft

  • 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...

  • 42-102947 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...

  • 42-107151 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
    ...

  • 42-31730 '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...

  • 42-31891 The Shape

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 31/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-P] Deenethorpe 15/2/44; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 1/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...

  • 42-31983 Mary Alice

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 13/1/44; Kearney 28/1/44; Presque Is 18/2/44; Grenier 2/3/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-G] Deenethorpe 7/3/44; detailed Munich 13/7/44 with L.H. Haskett, Tail gunner: Ed Page (Killed in Action); Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 6/6...

  • 42-37788 HELL'S MESSENGER

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 28/8/43; Scott 16/9/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG Grafton Underwood 7/11/43; transferred 547BS [SO-N]; transferred to 364FG Leiston, Sfk, UK. 11/43; Returned to the USA Bradley 14/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 17/7/45; Reconstruction Finance...

  • 42-97630 Peg O' My heart, Geraldine

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 11/1/44; 1SAG Langley 6/2/44; Presque Is 10/3/44; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-H] Bassingbourn 27/4/44; 323BS [OR-T]; 41+m transferred 306BG Thurleigh 21/5/45; Salvaged 9AF Germany 28/3/46. GERALDINE aka PEG ‘O MY HEART. ...

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Revisions

Date Contributor Update
29 April 2015 11:13:59 general ira snapsorter Changes to event
Sources

Correction to Connection to reflect Bomb Divisions redesignation to Air Divisions from 1 Jan 1945.
Date Contributor Update
29 April 2015 11:05:42 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 18:43:09 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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