Eighth Air Force
Command
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force in February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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835
19 February 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.
Official description
Not yet known
Description
1,100 Heavies Hit Nazi Rails
More than 1,800 8th Air Force heavies resumed the air offensive against Nazi communications and industrial targets yesterday after a day of inactivity, hammering objectives at Osnabruck, Rheine and Seiger and pounding areas in the Ruhr.
The Libs and Forts were escorted by about 500 Mustangs and Thunderbolts, which dived low to strafe communication lines. One group of fighters accounted for nine truck and five railway cars, while another destroyed 148 locomotives and 365 oil cars in the Hanover area.
The Krauts also took it from the British and from U.S.bombers based in Italy.
Lancasters of the RAF Bombers command, escorted by Mustangs, yesterday afternoon attacked the important communications center of Wesel in support of Canadian 1st Army's offensive.
From Italy, Libs and Forts soared out to belt rail yards in Vienna.
Mission details
1.
Description
SCOUTING MISSION
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
2. ALM
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
3. BOCHUM
Description
BENZOL PLANT
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
4. DORTMUND/HARPENERWEG
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
5. GELSENKIRCHEN
Description
BENZOL PLANT
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
6. HANNOVER-MAGDEBURG-BRUNSWICK
Description
FIGHTER SWEEPS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
7. HASELUNNE
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
8. JUNGDENTHAL
Description
VEHICLE PLANT
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
9. MESCHEDE
Description
VEHICLE PLANT
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
A mix of 122 P-47s and P-51s provides escort. Mix not given in available data.
Mission Statistics
10. MUNSTER
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
Mission 281, 8thAF/ 379thBG/ A. Edwards B-17 Crew: Flown on 2/19/1945
Mission City: Munster Country: Germany Mission Target: Marshalling Yards Aircraft: 42-38183 Name: The Lost Angel
Crew: Alfred E Edwards Jr, Lester 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
11. OSNABRUCK
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Units
-
95th Bomb Group
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August... -
335th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Mission Statistics
| Number of aircraft Sent | 44 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 42 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 0 |
12. RHEINE
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
13. SIEGEN
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
14. WESEL
Description
RAIL BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
Service
People
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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 -
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. -
John Barnes
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 95th Bomb Group
John Barnes was born January 31, 1922 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Leonard and Gertrude Barnes of Emporium, PA . He received his undergraduate and Ph.D from Penn State University. He served in WWII as the navigator of the “Spirit of Martinez with... -
Nephi Berkenpas
Military | Colonel | Aircraft Mechanic, Instructor Pilot for B-24, B-17, B-25, Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Instructor Aircraft Maintenance | 351st Bomb Group
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Robert Birney
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator, Commanding Officer | 384th Bomb Group
Bob Birney was assigned to the 547th Bomb Squadron on 5 February 1945 and completed 26 missions between 19 February 1945 and 20 April 1945. -
John Bookout
Military | Captain | pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned Jan 1945 -
David Bridgers
Military | Captain | Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
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Keith Bryant
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator/Gunner | 351st 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... -
Frank Calicura
Military | First Lieutenant | B-17 Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Frank Calicura served as a pilot with the 95th Bomb Group. ...
Aircraft
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42-97093 I'll Get By
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/1/44; Kearney 14/2/44; Presque Is 20/2/44; Assigned 568BS/390BG [BI-S] Framlingham 3/3/44 DOC'S FLYING CIRCUS, then GIRL OF MY DREAMS; on mission 21/7/44 with ? , Lt Sam Dubin (Killed in Action); severe icing during assembly for... -
42-97844
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 14/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-R] Horham 20/4/44; with Glovik 7/10/44, Waist gunner: Chas Buda KIA; 97m, Missing in Action Frankfurt 9/3/45 with Bill Durant (Ouratt?), Co-pilot: Dwight King, Navigator... -
43-38393
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/7/44; Hunter 8/8/44; Dow Fd 30/8/44; Assigned 569BS/390BG [CC-V] Framlingham 2/9/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 30/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 6/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)... -
43-38617 New York Express
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/8/44; Hunter 7/9/44; Dow Fd 18/9/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-Q] Horham 19/9/44; with W.N. Dunwoody force landed Raydon afb, Suffolk 10/1/45; 80m, Returned to the USA Bradley 24/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 28/6/45;... -
43-38776 Passion Wagon/Victory Devils
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 20/9/44; Grenier 11/10/44; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-B] Horham 13/10/44; 67m, Returned to the USA Bradley 26/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 28/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 29... -
43-39014 Hot Shot Charlie
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 6/11/44; Grenier 14/11/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-C] Bassingbourn 9/1/45; (flew two POW trips) ; 26m Returned to the USA Bradley 12/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 13/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)... -
44-6583 Cadet Nurse
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 16/9/44; Dow Fd 2/10/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-Y] Horham 13/10/44; battle damaged Nurnberg 20/2/45 with R. Lee Young, #2 feathered, crash landed near A-78 AF Florennes, Bel; 9RTD; 39m, sal 28/2/45. CADET NURSE. -
44-6838 Spirit of Martinez, Cal's Rascals
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Hunter 27/11/44; Grenier 16/12/44; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-E] Horham 1/1/45; battle damaged Chemnitz 6/2/45 with D.V. Tregoning, force landed B-53, Merville, Bel. then rep; 53m, Returned to the USA Bradley 21/6/45; Sth Plains 23/6/45;... -
44-8144 Hell's Belle
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Dallas 27/6/44; Langley 27/7/44; Dow Fd 4/8/44; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-O] Horham 10/8/44; 336BS [ET-O], then 412BS [GW-O]; with W.V. Owen force landed Framlingham afb, Sfk 25/12/44; battle damaged Hamburg 30/3/45 with E.R. Parrish[wia];... -
44-8210 Sweetheart of Seattle
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Dallas 11/7/44; Langley 8/8/44; Dow Fd 12/9/44; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-Z] Rougham 14/9/44; transferred 335BS/95BG [OE-J] Horham 11/44; with L.W. Jensen, Radio Operator: Paul Rupard, Waist gunner: - Olson [2wia] 24/2/45; 53m, RetUS,...
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 18 September 2018 04:27:25 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 04:25:56 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 04:24:43 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 04:11:05 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Newspaper article |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 03:55:56 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Owner of source material captured |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 September 2018 04:41:25 | spiritofmartinez45 | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 January 2016 05:40:13 | Figmnt | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thairforce.com/379th/search/crew_member_listing_for_mission.... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 January 2016 05:30:41 | Figmnt | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thairforce.com/379th/search/crew_member_listing_for_mission.... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 December 2014 10:04:55 | Emily | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Moved pin from Alm US to ALM Germany |
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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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