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16 March 1944
Certificate showing the 33 Missions completed by Capt. William M. Bryan Jr of the 93rd Bomb Group
390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron, CREW 70 . Personnel Log entry from my uncles journey ,
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 37, 16 Mar 1944, Augsburg, Germany
Not yet known
The two primary targets for this mission are: the industrial areas of Augsburg, Germany and Friedrichshafen, Germany. A combined force of 720 heavy bombers are despatched from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. The bomber gunners of the combined despatch claim 68-32-43 (probably exaggerated) of attacking German aircraft (statistic displayed with 3AD). Mission Summary follows:
3rd Air Division: A combined force of 221 B-17s from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 352BG are despatched to attack at Augsburg, Germany. 188 aircraft are effective on Augsburg; 18 bomb at Ulm, Germany because they could not see the PFF markers at Augsburg, Germany. 13 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 20KIA 70POW 3EVD 28INT (Switzerland). 1 airman from a returning aircraft baled out over France and managed to evade capture - 1EVD 9RTD. 1 airman in a returning aircraft was KIA and another 8 were WIA. Bomber gunner claims (bundled for all Air Divisions) were 68-32-43 of attacking German aircraft. There ar no other losses, casualties or claims.
1st Air Division: A combined force of 280 B-17s from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; 457BG; and 482G are despatched to the primary target at Augsbug, Germany. 213 are effective at Augsburg, Germany 46 bomb the industrial areas of Gesserthausen, Germany because they mistakenly identified the PFF markers at Augsburg, Germany. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 2KIA 22POW 2EVD 10RTD (rescued by ASR) 14INT (Switzerland). 2 airmen in returning aircraft are WIA. There are no other losses casulaties or claims.
2nd Air Division: A combined force of 239 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; 453BG; and 458BG are despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Friedrickshafen, Germany. 197 are effective on the target; 12 aircraft bomb other Targets of Opportunity (TOs) in the area. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 18KIA 8POW 2RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) when it ran out of petrol and crashed at Woodchurch AF, Kent. 7KIA 3RTD. 6 airmen on returning aircraft are KIA and another 7 WIA. There are no other losses casualties or claims.
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 33.53 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 13 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 13 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
Fighter opposition is heavy against the first groups over France and Germany. The bomber gunners take a good toll of attackers (claims probably over-stated). One Group attacked Ulm as a Tairget of Opportunity because it could not see the Pathfinder (PFF) markers at Augsburg. 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...
| Tonnage dropped | 433.53 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 203 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 188 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 13 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 21 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 8 |
| Number of people Evaded | 3 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 80 |
| Number of people Interned | 28 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 9 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 68 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 32 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 43 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
One squadron turned back at the French coast because it was unable to form up with the rest of its Combat Wing.
457th BG MISSION NO. 13 - LECHFELD, GERMANY
16 MARCH 1944
Eighteen aircraft were dispatched to attack the airdrome at Lechfeld, Germany, an experimental field for Messerschmidts in southern Germany. Major Francis was Air Commander andLt. Mark R. Beicher was pilot. The Group comprised the highbox in the Wing formation. A heavy undercast prevented the bombing of the primary target; however the secondary target ofAugsburg, Germany, was bombed with unobserved results.Moderate flak encountered over the target area caused damageto three planes. Several crews reported observing ground rockets being used by the Germans.
On the way back to England, German fighters began attacks northeast of Paris. The aircraft piloted by Lt. Lewis W.Lennartson was attacked by enemy fighters. The craft made it to the Channel where the crew was forced to ditch about seven miles off the French coast.
The crew was rescued by the British Air-Sea RescueService, bringing the entire crew to safety. The tail gunner caught a piece of flak and was the only crew member to sustain injury.Lt. Lennartson and crew became the first of the 457th crews to ditch.The Eighth had dispatched 740 bombers to various targets. Twenty-three failed to return.
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 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 | 462.21 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 234 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 213 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 2 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
| Number of people Evaded | 2 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 22 |
| Number of people Interned | 14 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-24 Liberator
6,032,000 leaflets were also dropped by the bombers. All Groups participating are from 2nd Bomb Division.
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
The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...
| Tonnage dropped | 508.06 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 200 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 197 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 31 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 8 |
| Number of people Interned | 22 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 5 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
1st Combat Bomb Wing mistook Gessertshausen for Augsburg on the Pathfinder (PFF) screen. Groups participating are from the 1st Combat Bomb Wing of the 1st Bomb Division.
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 398th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire on strategic bombing raids over Germany. The Group switched focus in the days before D-Day, when they targeted enemy positions on the Cherbourg peninsula. When the Allies...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 99.82 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 46 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 46 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Group from 3rd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 106.08 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 15 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 18 |
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 | First Lieutenant | Navigator; Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
DFC/ AM w/ 5 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Unit Citation w/ Oak Leaf Cluster
1 Damaged
Military | Major | Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Clyde Lewis crew.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Captain | Navigator, bombardier, nose gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 7
Military | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
322nd Squadron pilot John Boyce completed 30 missions on 'Dame Satan II' with the 91st Bomber Group and was awarded the DFC and Air Medal. Post war he worked as a plumber and was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Canton Blue Hillsmen, a barbershop...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 446th Bomb Group
Flew 25 missions, ending just before D-Day. Flew on D Day just to see it. According to him, he never saw a German fighter but did see lots of flak.
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 7
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...
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 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/32; Scott 25/10/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-B] Deenethorpe 30/10/43;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 22/10/43; Gr Island 3/11/43; Memphis 10/11/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-H] Horham 15/11/43; with Glen Infield force landed RAF Manston 4/3/44; 25m, Missing in Action Augsburg 16/3/44 with Jim Reed, Co-pilot: Maj Noel Strader,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 31/10/43; Kearney 13/11/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-G] Horham 1/1/44; flak damage Berlin 6/10/44 with Lester Lennox, Co-pilot: Bob McCoy (2 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Bill Tate, Bombardier: Dick White, Flight engineer/top turret...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 12/11/43; Kearney 27/11/43; RAF Valley 7/12/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-Q] Deenethorpe 21/1/44; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 13/4/44 with Alf Vokaty, Co-pilot: Bill Cambrell, Navigator: Shea Schacter, Bombardier: Chas Strode, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Presque Is 9/12/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-D] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; Missing in Action Evere A/fd 10/4/44 with Gaston Fox, Co-pilot: Francis Hoad, Navigator: Darrel Wilson, Bombardier: Leon Mendelson, Ball...
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.
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 February 2018 00:35:39 | TennyBelle | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
8th AF Database |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 September 2017 17:19:42 | WWII37 | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
711th Bombardment Squadron (H), 447th Bombardment Group (H) |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 February 2016 17:25:00 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added combined totals of bomber gunner claims to statistics of 3rd Air Division per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 February 2016 17:21:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-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 13:51:57 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma13.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 13:51:08 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma13.html |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:12 | 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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