355

13 May 1944
media-19364.jpeg UPL 19364 'Forts maul rail center -- Bombs from Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses strike the marshalling yards at Osnabruck as US 8th AAF heavies attacked 13 May 44. Smoke from a nearby steel plant can be seen rising as the American bombs take their toll. Hits were also registered on the steel plant. 95th BG.'
Photo from 42-107201 "Worry Bird" (95th BG 334th BS BG-J)
NARA Ref No 342-FH-3A22211-3A22211.

Object Number - UPL 19364 - 'Forts maul rail center -- Bombs from Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses strike the marshalling yards at Osnabruck as US 8th AAF heavies attacked 13 May...

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3 T HE

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 30.5 T HE

OSNABRUCK (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 572.5 T HE

STETTIN (Opportunistic)

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Notes: The mission was originally planned to hit oil refinery targets in Poland but clouds force the mission to hit these targets in Germany instead. Luftwaffe opposition was heavy. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 45 - POLITZ-STETTIN, POLAND 13 MAY, 1944 Having commenced the campaign to eliminate the German synthetic oil production, the 457th followed up by going to Politz to attack the second largest synthetic oil plant in Germany. This plant produced over 600,000 tons annually. The Group provided eighteen aircraft for the low box of the 94th Combat Wing. Major Theodore C. Hoffman served as AU Commander, and Lt. Malcolm E. Johnson was pilot. En route to the target area, the 40th and 41st Combat Wings came under vicious attack from FW-190s and Me-109s. The 94th Combat Wing was not intensively attacked. The target area was under approximately eight-tenths cloud coverage, which required PFF bombing, so the bomb run was made on Stettin. Bombing results were fair with a wide bomb pattern. Flak was moderate to heavy, however only one craft received damage. The Eighth lost fifteen bombers.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 659 T HE

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 103 T HE

TUTOW (Primary)

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group.

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 446 T HE

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0-810985
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
The insignia of the 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-808281
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Little Sheppard
  • Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kidley Divey
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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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