8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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833
16 February 1945
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Strike photo - Dortmund 16 February 1945. Official USAAF caption : "A towering column of smoke marks the site of new oil refinery at Dortmund, Germany which was attacked for the first time on Feb. 16 1945, by the U.S. 8th AF. Against the shadow of the smoke column may be seen other bombs falling directly toward it." Dortmund. Photographs, to some extent obscured by smoke and haze, taken on the 16th February after the 8th Air Force attack earlier in the day, show considerable damage centered round the power station and coking plant of Hoesch A.G. The chemical installations of the Minster-Stein coke oven plant were also hit during this attack and were still on fire some two hours afterwards. Both batteries of coke-ovens have suffered heavily and will probably be incapable of operation for at least a month. There is considerable residential damage in the vicinity of this plant.
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Plane used by Robert M Wertz (and crew) on crashed mission 2/16/1945 after successfully bombing Munster Railhead (2ndary target). Crashed on east side of Weeze, Germany.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 209, 16 Feb 1945, Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The Group was briefed at 0700 hours. Aircraft loading was twelve 500 pound G.P.'s and 2,500 gallons of gas. Assembly was at Kingscliffe Buncher at 10,000 feet. All operational aircraft were airborne by 1054 hours, but the airfield was closed shortly thereafter by low visibility (ceiling 400 feet, visibility 1,000 yards). One ship forced to abort and one spare returning early were diverted to Ridgewell. Upon returning from the mission, a number of ships were forced to land at other bases because of battle damage, poor visiblity at Deenthorpe or both. The pilot of one ship reported that he could only fly straight and level, could not find a hole in the clouds and was therefore putting the ship on autopilot and bailing the crew out over England. It was reported at 1845 hours that the ship had crashed near Bardney, Lincolnshire, but that the crew of ten had all bailed out safely. On the following day (17 February) the Flying Control log noted that at 1515 hours all aircraft from yesterday's mission have returned except: IY-M (371) Capt. Lozinski M.I.A. IN-N (862) Lt. Baker at Honeyborne, No. 1 engine out. IN-C (187) Lt. Donaldson M.I.A. IY-A (860) Lt. Hanson M.I.A. IY-O (779) Lt. McKay, crashed in U.K. IY-F (664) Lt. Jordan, at Catfoss IY-G (983) Lt. Cracraft, at Lissett, Nos. 1 and 2 engines out. IW-C (833) Lt. Brown at Honeybourne, No 2 engine out. The 401st provided the three squadrons comprising the 94th Combat Wing "B" Group. Bombing was conducted by a combination of PFF (radar), Gee-H (radio beams)and visual when the lead bombardier saw a checkpoint through the heavy haze and contrails. While all three squadrons missed the target MPI, two of the three placed their bombs into an oil plant just short of the assigned target. While no enemy aircraft were encountered, the Group flew through intense and accurate flak at the target. As a result, three 401st aircraft were downed over the Continent and a fourth was abandoned over England upon its return. The four were as follows: The ship piloted by Catain S. J. Lozinski, No. 44-8371 ("Badland Bat II"), received a direct hit and blew up over the target. Only the bombardier, Lt. H. E. Hughes, survived. The aircraft piloted by Lt. Ernest A. Hansen, No. 42-97869 ("Maid to Order"), was hit in the right wing, which caught on fire. The crew bailed out over Holland, but three members of the crew, including the pilot, were killed. One crew member, Sgt. R. A. Miller, the Engineer, evaded capture, but the remaining crew members were POW's. The ship piloted by Lt. Jeff N. Donaldson, No. 43-38187 ("Carrie B III") was hit by flak and lost an engine over the target. Unable to reach Allied-held territory, it landed in the North Sea off the coast of Holland. All members of the crew survived but were taken prisoner. Finally, the aircraft referred to in the Flying Control report, piloted by Lt. George W. McKay, suffered major flak damage but was able to return to England. However, being unable to land the ship, Lt. McKay engaged the autopilot and ordered his crew to bail out. All crew members survived, and the ship crashed near Barney, Lincolnshire.
Official description
Not yet known
Description
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Mission details
1.
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
2. BURGSTEINFURT
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
3. DORTMUND/HARPENERWEG
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
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Mission Statistics
4. HAMM
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
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Mission Statistics
5. LANGENDREER
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
Mission 280 Flown on 2/16/1945, 8th AF/379th BG/ A. Edwards Crew
Mission City: Langendreer Country: Germany
Mission Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Aircraft: 44-6459
Alfred E Edwards Jr, Lester W Bohne, Billy C. Hulsey, Vernon T. Calhoun, Wallace I Pfieffer, Janel D Hamilton , William H Melvin Jr., Harry G Chaoona, Michael Rusnak.
Units
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379th Bomb Group
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Mission Statistics
6. MEPPEN
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
7. MINSTERSTEIN
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
8. MUNSTER
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
9. NORDSTERN
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
457th BG MISSION NO. 188 : GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY : 16 FEBRUARY, 1945
The synthetic benzol producing refineries at Gelsenkirchen were the targets. The Group supplied the 94th A Combat Wing lead and low boxes with Lt. Col. Francis as Air Commander. The 351st Bomb Group comprised the high box. Wing assembly was without difficulty. The Group was in proper position in Division column and flew the Division assembly line 1500 feet above briefed altitude in order to avoid clouds. Course from the end of the Division assembly line to the IF was flown as briefed, except it was necessary for the Group to go 1,000 feet above briefed altitude in order to avoid dense, persistent contrails. The IP was reached on course.
The Group made a run on the primary target, in squadron formation. It was necessary to bomb by G-FI equipment because dense, persistent contrails produced by aircraft of the preceding formation, and fog, made it impossible to perform a visual sighting operation. Cloud coverage was about four tenths, and visibility was extremely poor. The Group was about 1,000 feet above briefed altitude because of contrails and bombs were dropped from 27,000 feet. Bomb results of the lead squadron were fair; no photos were available from the low squadron.
Flak was moderate but accurate. The craft piloted by Lt. Roland H. Brazier, deputy lead of the low box, was hit in No. 3 engine. The right wing folded and broke off, the plane rolled over, went into a flat spin and was on fire. Six of the crewmen did not survive.
Because of weather conditions, the Group landed at another base.
Units
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1st Air Division
Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division. -
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
10. OSNABRUCK
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
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Mission Statistics
11. OSNABRUCK
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
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Mission Statistics
12. RHEINE
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
13. RHEINE
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
14. SALZBERGEN
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
15. WESEL
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
Service
People
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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). -
Martin Anderson
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
T/Sgt Martin A. Anderson flew 34 missions, from 02/05/1944, mission #21, to 03/31/1945, mission #240. He served as a Radio Operator. He survived until the end of the war. Flew aircrafts 42-31521 'Badland Bat' DFC -
Lester Bohne
Military | 379th Bomb Group
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John Bookout
Military | Captain | pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned Jan 1945 -
Peter Brennan
Military | Technical Sergeant | Togglier | 388th Bomb Group
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John Burk
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 447th Bomb Group
John McKale Burk was born 30 November 1924 in Ventnor, Atlantic County, NJ to Frederick Grater Burk (20 April 1891 Philadelphia, PA -19 June 1948 Philadelphia, PA) and Mary Cunningham McKale Burk (21 February 1895 Philadelphia, PA - 20 October 1990... -
Walter Campbell
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) crashed near Kleve on 16 Feb 45 in B-17 #43-39081. After bypassing the primary target Langendreer, Germany, crew was ordered to proceed to bomb secondary target the Munster railhead. This plane was in the lead and was shot down... -
Jeff Donalson
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Most significant experience occurred on 16 February 1945 as consequence of bombing mission of Gelsenkirchen oil refinery. Because of flak damage to aircraft during and following bomb run, we were unable to return to England and were forced to ditch in... -
Richard Douglas
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 486th Bomb Group
See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm -
W. Douglas
Military | Pin Point Navigator | 486th Bomb Group
See the official crew and mission list of Capt. Robert J. Whitney at: https://486th.org/BS832/Whitney.htm
Aircraft
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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... -
42-107062 Worry Bird/Miss Bea Haven
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 9/2/44; Rapid City 2/3/44; Dow Fd 3/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 25/4/44; no ops, transferred 562BS/388BG Knettishall 29/4/44 WORRY BIRD; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 29/11/45;... -
42-107113 'Miss Aldaflak' 'Section 8'
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... -
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
This was the only original aircraft of the 401st BG to return to the USA after the war. The aircraft was named after Lt. Bryan Shotts' Wife "Betty Jean Shotts". ... -
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... -
42-31891 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)... -
42-39993 '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. ... -
42-97395 Chute The Works
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 25/2/44; Kearney 17/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-F] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; mechanical fault, with Dave Stauffer, caused fire and burnt out at RAF Saltby 25/43/45; 111m, Salvaged 2 SAD 25/3/45. CHUTE THE WORKS. -
42-97478 Shade Ruff #2
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/11/43; Wendover 12/12/43; Nutts Corner, Belfast, N. I. 20/1/44; Assigned 748BS/457BG Glatton 9/1/44; 749BS; transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-Q] Deenethorpe 11/3/44. ...
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 12 January 2016 05:23:01 | Figmnt | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thairforce.com/379th/search/crew_member_listing_for_mission.... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 January 2016 05:19:28 | Figmnt | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thairforce.com/379th/search/crew_member_listing_for_mission.... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 April 2015 11:30:53 | 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/ |
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| 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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