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859

2 March 1945

  • Page 146 of the 95th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). The 95th Bomb Group unit history was published by the Group’s Photographic Section. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.

    Page 146 of the 95th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). The 95th Bomb Group unit history was published by the Group’s Photographic Section. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.

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  • Page 147 of the 95th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). The 95th Bomb Group unit history was published by the Group’s Photographic Section. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.

    Page 147 of the 95th Bomb Group unit history. Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations). The 95th Bomb Group unit history was published by the Group’s Photographic Section. Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.

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    1-5 of 7
  • 1st Lt. John W. Rohrs KIA on March 2, 1945. Rohrs was credited with a 1/2 kill of a ME262 jet fighter on January 14, 1945 along with Lt. George Rosen. Rohrs flew with the 351st Fighter Squadron in the 353rd Fighter Group out of Raydon AF

    1st Lt. John W. Rohrs KIA on March 2, 1945. Rohrs was credited with a 1/2 kill of a ME262 jet fighter on January 14, 1945 along with Lt. George Rosen. Rohrs flew with the 351st Fighter Squadron in the 353rd Fighter Group out of Raydon AF

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  • The personal plane of Lt. John W. Rohrs YJ-U

    The personal plane of Lt. John W. Rohrs YJ-U "Don Helen #44-14781 landing at Raydon.

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  • 8th Air Force mission 859; Dresden; March 2, 1945. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

    8th Air Force mission 859; Dresden; March 2, 1945. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

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  • Dad’s 7th Mission | Entry Flight Log / Mission Journal 03/02/45 Bohlen #859

    Dad’s 7th Mission | Entry Flight Log / Mission Journal 03/02/45 Bohlen #859

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  • From Dad’s Crew Assignment / Orders

    From Dad’s Crew Assignment / Orders

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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. BOHLEN

Description

GUN BATTERIES

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

3. BOHLEN

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

4. CHEMNITZ

Description

INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

5. COLOGNE

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

6. DRESDEN

Description

MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Units

  • 385th Bomb Group

    385th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...

Mission Statistics

7. JOCKETA

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

8. MAGDEBURG/BUCKAU

Description

TANK FACTORY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

9. MAGDEBURG/ROTHENSEE

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

A mix of 187 P-47s and P-51 provide escort. Mix not given in available data.

Mission Statistics

10. PENIG

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

11. ROSITZ

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

12. RUHLAND

Description

OIL REFINERY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

13. SAALFELD

Description

BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft type

Not yet known

Notes

Not yet known

Mission Statistics

Service

People

  • John Bookout

    Military | Captain | pilot | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned Jan 1945

  • Peter Brennan

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Togglier | 388th Bomb Group

  • 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...

  • Charles Cappellino

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 95th Bomb Group

  • Billy Decherniss

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Radar Navigator | 95th Bomb Group
    Retired from the USAF with the rank of Lt. Colonel

  • Leroy Elfert

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
    Assigned 365BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. 22 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Oranienburg in B-17 43-38803; mid air collision with B-17 43-38803, crashed Wilsnack, Germany 10-Apr-45 Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 13876. Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

  • Jean Elissalde

    Military | Major | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
    Assigned Jan 1945

  • Robert Franklin

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 466th Bomb Group
    Franklin was appointed the rank of Flight Officer upon graduated Navigator School. He retired from the USAF with the rank of 1st LT. ...

  • Roy Frawley

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 486th Bomb Group

  • John Gordon

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
    2nd Lt. John "Jack" H. Gordon, Jr. was one of two sons who served in WWII. Jack was a B-17 pilot who gave his life to save his crew. They had to break off from the squadron when they developed an oil leak and lost two engines. Estimating fuel and...

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Aircraft

  • 42-51273

    B-24 Liberator

  • 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...

  • 43-37904 Princess Pat aka Hannah’s Children

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 2/6/44; Hunter 13/6/44; Dow Fd 24/6/44; Assigned 569BS/390BG [CC-L] Framlingham 29/6/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 3/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 4/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)...

  • 43-38736 Maiden America

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Lincoln 14/9/44; Grenier 27/9/44; Assigned 548BS/385BG [GX-P] Gt Ashfield 1/10/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 24/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 26/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28...

  • 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...

  • 43-38933 Dear Mom II/Weary Wolf

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Lincoln 14/10/44; Dow Fd 26/10/44; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 29/10/44; while on navigation exercise 17/5/45 with H.J. Cole, cp V. Ferguson, two navigators and two grounded crew, on as makeshift ttg and r/op (6 Killed in Action); crash...

  • 43-38996

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Lincoln 1/11/44; Grenier 12/11/44; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-T] Horham 19/11/44; with B.F. Cummings force landed A-78 AF Florennes/Juzaine, Bel 6/2/45; 62m, Returned to the USA Bradley 22/5/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 24/5/45;...

  • 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)...

  • 44-14781 "Don Helen"

    P-51 Mustang
    Assigned to 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort to Ruhland; chasing Me109 with Lt Harry Gilmer at 22,000ft through bomber formation, when hit by flak. Last seen going down vertical at 15,000ft. 2-Mar-45 pilot Lt John W. Rohrs Killed...

  • 44-6597 Supermouse

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Lincoln 18/9/44; Grenier 11/10/44; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 12/10/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 28/6/45; Sth Plains 1/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 17/12/45. SUPERMOUSE.

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Revisions

Date Contributor Update
02 July 2017 02:59:09 Virginiawise50 Changes to person associations
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, who was pilot on this mission with Jack Q. Means as co-pilot.
Date Contributor Update
01 July 2017 20:17:34 Virginiawise50 Changes to event
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, B-17 (43-38736) pilot, 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group flew on this mission from Great Ashfield to Dresden, 2 Mar 1945.
Date Contributor Update
01 July 2017 20:14:10 Virginiawise50 Changes to person associations
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, B-17 (43-38736) pilot, 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, flew on this mission from Great Ashfield, England to Dresden, 2 Mar 1945.
Date Contributor Update
30 May 2017 21:04:15 maloons Changes to person associations
Sources

Crew member 42-51273 added ( KIA)
Date Contributor Update
30 May 2017 21:03:20 maloons Changes to aircraft associations
Sources

Aircraft added ( verified)
Date Contributor Update
23 March 2017 16:16:19 dwgdallas Changes to media associations
Sources

The personal collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray
Date Contributor Update
23 March 2017 16:15:30 dwgdallas Changes to aircraft associations
Sources

The personal collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray
Date Contributor Update
23 March 2017 15:31:27 dwgdallas Changes to media associations
Sources

The personal collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray
Date Contributor Update
23 March 2017 15:30:35 dwgdallas Changes to person associations
Sources

The personal collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray
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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