9 March 1944
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group, 546TH Bomb Squadron falls towards the ground after having its tail shorn off by falling bombs during a mission to Berlin, Ball turret gunner and waist gunner were able to bail out at 5,000 feet, 9 March 1944. MACR 3005. 42-37781.
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'
Nose art on 42-37781. Following a routine practice mission on 26 December 1943, the right main landing gear would not extend. The Pilot, George Withers Stier, was directed to fly to Little Staughton, Station 127, and make a belly landing there. This was accomplished with no injury to the crew. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service, flying her next mission on 6 March 1944.
Certificate showing the 33 Missions completed by Capt. William M. Bryan Jr of the 93rd Bomb Group
8th Air Force mission 253; Berlin; March 9, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron, CREW 70 . Personnel Log entry from my uncles journey ,
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 34, 9 Mar 1944, Berlin
Not yet known
Berlin is once again targeted by this mission as a secondary target. Primary target not listed in source data. All 3 Air Divisions despatch aircraft. There is very little fighter opposition. Mission Summary follows:
1st Air Division: A combined force of 224 B-17s from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; 457BG; and 482BG are despatched to Berlin, Germany. 208 aircraft are effective on the target; 303BG/422BS also drops 2,012,000 leaflets. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 8KIA 2POW 10INT (Sweden) 2 were lost to AA fire and the other was lost because it lost its tail due to a bomb dropped from above. 2 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DRB) 1 in a crash upon take off - 10KIA and 1 abandoned over England upon return - 10RTD. The bomber gunners claim 1-0-0 of attacking German aircraft. 3 airmen are WIA in returning aircraft. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
3rd Air Division: A combined force of 137 B-17s from: 94BG; 95BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG are despatched to Berlin, Germany. 131 are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 1 to AA fire the other 2 in ditchings in the English Channel upon return - 10POW 20RTD (rescued by ASR). 3 airmen are WIA in returning aircraft. There are no other losses casualties or claims.
2nd Air Division: A combined force of 165 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; 453BG; and 458BG are despatched to Berlin but their PFF aircraft failed and they ended up bombing anti-aircraft batteries and other industrial sites at Hannover; Brunswick and Nienburg, Germany. 150 are effective on a target. 2 aircraft with battle damage are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings upon return - 20RTD. 12 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses casualties or claims.
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Groups participating are all 3rd Bomb Division.
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
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...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
Group
The 452nd Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deopham Green, Norfolk, from January 1944. The air crews hit strategic sites in Germany but also supported the movement of ground forces across Europe after D-Day. On 6 June 1944 itself, the Group...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
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...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 303.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 137 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 131 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 13 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 36 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
401st Bomb Group, 457Bomb Group, 482nd Bomb Group. Fighter opposition is light as 808 USAAF fighters perform escort. Groups participating are all 1st Bomb Division.
457th BG MISSION NO. 10 - ORANIENBURG, GERMANY
9 MARCH, 1944
The mission called for the bombing of a Heinkel Bomber Aircraft Assembly Factory at Oranienburg, sixteen miles north of Berlin. Eighteen aircraft were dispatched. The factory produced approximately forty He-177s per month, the majority of the heavy bomber output for Germany. The 457th led the 94th Combat Wing, fourth in the Division formation. Major Henry B. Wilson was Air Commander and Lt. Raymond A. Syptak was pilot.
At the IP it was determined the undercast was such that a run should be made on Berlin, which was then carried out. Bombing was done by PFF, and the results were not observed because of the undercast. Fighter opposition was broken up by P-47s escorting the Group. Flak in the Berlin area was heavy and accounted for damage to several of the aircraft; however, none were lost to the enemy opposition.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
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...
Group
The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
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...
Group
The 482nd Bomb Group was a Pathfinder Group, which using radar-equipped aircraft to support bombing missions until March 1944. Aircraft from this Group went ahead of other Bombers and sent information back about the best routes to take and the extent...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
| Tonnage dropped | 498.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 224 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 208 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 18 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 12 |
| Number of people Interned | 10 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Fighter Command | 1 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-24 Liberator
On target list as a secondary, but not attacked
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-24 Liberator
Groups participating are all of 2nd Bomb Division. They drop on anti-aircraft batteries around Berlin after their Pathfinder (PFF) aircraft failed. They also dropped 201,200 leaflets.
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
Group
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group allocated B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 series fitted with a nose turret on the production line. The adaptation increased...
Group
The 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory...
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Group
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne...
Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged...
Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...
| Tonnage dropped | 410.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 165 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 159 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of people Evaded | 4 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 16 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 20 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-24 Liberator
On target list as a secondary, but not attacked
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 18 April 1944 in B-17 #42-37902 'Sure Thing', while performing his duties as the aircraft's Navigator. Became a Prisoner of War, surviving the war.
Military | Chief Master Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Bill Trimble crew.
Awards: DFC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Post war: Served in Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G #42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Captain | Navigator, bombardier, nose gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 412BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat mission. Loren Seger crew. ETD
Awards: AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak burst and crashed N of St Pol, FR on a mission to Wizernes, FR on 19 Mar 1944 in B-17G 42-31926 'Lovell's Hovel'. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Radio Operator | 390th Bomb Group
Frank Bobrowicz was Radio Operator on board B-17 #42-39819, hit by Flak on return from the 13 April 1944 mission to Augsburg, Germany. Ditched in the Channel/North Sea, about 18km West of the entrance to the port of Ostend, Belgium. Killed In Action ...
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 712BS, 448BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Brandenburg, Germany. Last seen crossing the coast with one engine feathered 9-Mar-44, crashed Nth of Arendonk, Belgium. 1 x RTD, 9 x POW. MACR 3339.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/4/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG as BATTLE WAGON but not to UK; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-J] 29/5/43; Returned to the USA 13/7/43; 4100 BU Patterson 31/7/43; 4000 BU Patterson 5/12/43...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/7/43; Gore 6/8/43; Pendleton 12/8/43; Reno 14/8/43; Pierre 16/8/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 3/9/43; crashed on take off for France 13/8/44 with Leon Sutton, Co-pilot: Harlan Thompson, Navigator: George Healy, Bombardier:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/9/43; Gr Island 10/10/43; Wilmington 13/10/43; Assigned 333BS/94BG Rougham 23/10/43; Missing in Action Munich 18/3/44 with Ron Croft, Co-pilot: Lester Krapf, Navigator: Glen Likewise, Bombardier: Jim Parker, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/10/43; Assigned 526BS/379BG [LF-D] Kimbolton 20/1/44; transferred AFSC with Azon/Aphrodite (388BG) Knettishall 7/6/44; Missing in Action v-sites Watten, Fr; 6/8/44 with Lt J. Sollars & T/Sgt H. Graves (2 Returned to Duty); lost...
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...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 12/11/43; Kearney 27/11/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-Q] Deenethorpe 1/2/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Jack Atherton, Co-pilot: Don Awalt, Navigator: Dick Fitzmaurice, Bombardier: John Whelan, Flight engineer/top turret...
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)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 20/9/43; Gr Island 14/10/43; Assigned 563BS/388BG [ -D] Knettishall 26/10/43; Missing in Action Berlin 9/3/44 with Bernie Dopko, Co-pilot: Gene Krifka, Navigator: Glenn Cederstrom, Bombardier: Bill Kelly, Flight engineer/top turret...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2017 17:19:07 | WWII37 | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
711th Bombardment Squadron (H), 447th Bombardment Group (H) |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 18:42:32 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added bomber gunner claims to statistics of 1AD element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2016 18:40:17 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary:, Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 13:34:37 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma10.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 January 2015 04:24:12 | 466thHistorian | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
466th BG Historian |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 December 2014 10:07:20 | Emily | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Moved pin from Hannover South Africa to Hanover Germany |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:11 | 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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