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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.

    Show caption About this image
    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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  • Verne Jordan - Crew assignment orders.

    Verne Jordan - 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

  • Harry Ahlers

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 21 x combat missions. Awards: AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Allan Ainley

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 x combat missions. Michael Kochel crew. ETD Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 x Battle Stars)

  • 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).

  • Howard Anderson

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group

  • John Anderson

    Military | Sergeant | Waist gunner | 401st Bomb Group
    Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 21 x combat missions. Harry Ahlers crew. Awards: AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).

  • Lyle Andler

    Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group

  • 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

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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...

  • 42-102947 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)...

  • 42-31662 '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.

  • 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)...

  • 42-51273

    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...

  • 42-97322 Mister Completely, Home James

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 18/2/44; Dow Fd 7/3/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 1/5/44; no ops, transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-D] Deenethorpe 21/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 5/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; 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. ...

  • 42-97931 'MADAME QUEEN'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Denver 8/4/44; Kearney 4/5/44; Dow Fd 21/5/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-Q] Deenethorpe 1/6/44; 614BS [IW-A]; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap...

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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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