Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
10 October 1943
A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30233) of the 95th Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Munster, B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30181) nicknamed "Herky Jerky II" (circled) breaks formation due to damage. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26414 AC - Munster, Germany (Oct 10, 1943), disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" in flight. U.S. Air Force Photo. 10-10-43.'
'Herky Jerky II' leaving formation over Holland, due to battle damage sustained over Munster. Force landed Framlingham 10-10-43. Pilot Lt Rodney E Snow. Radio Operator Harry Van Arsdale WIA.
2nd Lt Jim Frederick Burch
Place where 42-3436 crashed on October 14, 1943 - 13.45 h local time. Tail part in The Netherlands Nose part in Germany Missing - nose - Donald Paul Breeden/co-pilot Probably interred with Martin and/or Manley Source: George Kuhl - Wrong Place! Wrong Time! - page 149 KIA - nose - William James Martin/navigator - Harvey Arlie Manley/bombardier KIA - tail - Leonard Roy Henlin/left waist gunner - Robert G Wells /right waist gunner All others POW Krems /17b - Hosea Crawford - Dominic Lepore - Arthur Linrud - Benjamin Roberts Sagan/3 - Dennis McDarby
Page 188 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.
John Francis Stephens
"Stymie" and her crews.
Not yet known
This mission was intended to be a massive attack of 307 B-17s on the railroad facilities and waterway (canals) at Munster, Germany. This attack was to be supported by a diversion 39 B-24s. The formation was attacked by hundreds of German fighters which caused the formations to break-up and some Bomb Groups were forced to bomb targets of opportunity. The summary is as follows:
The largest formation was of 133 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division Bomb Groups: 94BG (21); 95BG (20); 96BG (21); 100BG (14); 385BG (19); 388BG (19); and 390BG (19). This formation was intercepted by swarms of German fighters, literally hundreds. 119 aircraft were effective on the target but losses were significant. 29 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) and 1 aircraft was ditched into the North Sea - 74KIA 213POW; 5EVD 10 RTD (Rescued by ASR). 1 other returning aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 10RTD. 56 aircraft were damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft was KIA and 14 were Wounded in Action (WIA). 95th BG was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for their actions in leading the raid. 390BG set the all-time record for German fighters destroyed on a single mission with a score of 60-6-8 of the attacking German fighters. All tolled the bomber gunners of this formation claimed 177-20-49 of attacking German fighters. While this total is probably exaggerated, it is a fact that the bomber gunners did significant damage to the Luftwaffe on this attack.
A second formation of 139 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division Bomb Groups was also directed to bomb at Munster, Germany, but the smoke, fire, ground haze and carnage from the attack by 3rd BD caused many in this formation to diver to targets of opportunity. The attacks made were as follows:
31 aircraft from: 91BG (10); 351BG (17) and 381BG (6) flew to Munster where 19 were effective on the target. These did not face the furious onslaught of German fighters and the fighter escort was very successful in protecting the bombers. Only 1 aircraft of this formation Failed to Return( FTR) 1KIA 8POW; 13 aircraft were damaged. 4 airmen in this formation were Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners claimed 4-1-2 of attacking German fighters.
75 aircraft from: 92BG (19); 306BG (18); 303BG (20); and 384BG (18) diverted to attack the industrial areas of Coesfled, Germany. 68 were effective on this target. 30 aircraft were damaged. 1 airmen in a returning aircraft was KIA. There were no claims in this formation.
33 aircraft from: 305BG (16) and 379BG (17) diverted to attempt to bomb the German airfield at Enschede, Holland, but the bombs fell wide and hit the town killing 155 civilians. 3 aircraft were damaged. The bomber gunners claims 2-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.
The third formation of this mission was a formation of 39 B-24s from: 44BG (19); 93BG (9) and 389BG (11) dispatched to fly a diversion for the formations attacking at Munster. There were no losses or claims.
This was a very rough day for 8th Air Force with the loss of 30 aircraft, but the 183-21-51 score of the bomber gunners was impressive even if exaggerated. The Luftwaffe very definitely got a "bloody nose" on this one.
DIVERSION
B-24 Liberator
Diversion for the Munster raid.
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 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
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 | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 39 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 39 |
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
B-17 Flying Fortress
Coesfield, Germany was a target of opportunity.
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
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 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 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 | 230.65 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 75 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 68 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 30 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
The airfield at Enschede, Holland was a target of opportunity. The two Bomb Groups attacking missed the airfield and the bombs hit the town killing 155 civilians.
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
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 30 X 1000GP 620 X 100IB |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 33 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 30 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 2 |
RAILROADS and WATERWAYS
B-17 Flying Fortress
The 390th Bomb Group claims the highest number of enemy aircraft destroyed on a single mission (60-6-8). A record for the 8th Air Force. The 95th Bomb Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (2nd of 3). Only one aircraft from 100th Bomb Group returned to base, 12 were Missing in Action (MIA) and one Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) crash-landed.
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
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 | 424.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 133 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 119 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 29 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 56 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 74 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 13 |
| Number of people Evaded | 5 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 216 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 20 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 177 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 20 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 49 |
RAILROADS and WATERWAYS
B-17 Flying Fortress
One aircraft from 351st Bomb Group crashes in the sea off Covehithe counted as DBR.
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 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 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...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 33 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 19 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 13 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 4 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 1 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 2 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-30262 'Tech Supply'. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-30090 'El P'sstofo', Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-30047 'Sweater Girl'. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator/Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
ORIGINAL CREW #29 418TH BS, 100th Bomb Group.
Shot down in B-17F 42-3237 LD-R, "STYMIE" on 10 October 1943.
MACR 1030
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3310 'Blood, Guts and Rust'. Plane ditched into Mediterranean Sea. Returned to base.
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-3328 'Miss Fortune', Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Donald Paul Breeden served as pilot with the 364th Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb Group. His B-17 #423436 was shot down 14 October 1943 over the Netherlands and Breeden was declared Missing in Action (MIA).
...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 22 December 1943 in B-17 #4237773 'Full House. ' Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
The plane was ditched in the Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands.
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster / Purple Heart
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Born and raised in Kaufman County, Texas, Jim Burch studied for 2 years at the Terrell High School and began working as a salesman in a retail grocery in Terrell, Texas. Enlisting in April 1942, he followed Pilot training courses and was promoted to...
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-P] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42; Missing in Action 45m Oschersleben 11/1/44 with George McClellan, Co-pilot: Bill Fisher, ex B-26 pilot on his 1st mission, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Tempesta, Radio Operator...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-O] Cheyenne 13/9/42; Thurleigh 23/1/43; transferred 358BS/303BG Molesworth [VK-G] 25/9/43; 4m Missing in Action Duren 20/10/43 with John Hendry, Navigator: Bernie McNamara, Bombardier: Dick Webster Wounded in Action, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 31/12/42; Salina 7/1/43; Morrison 2/12/43; Homestead 14/2/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-D] Thurleigh 2/3/43; transferred 358BS/303BG [VK-K] Molesworth 30/7/43; 25m Missing in Action Oschersleben 26/1/44 with Jack Watson (RTD-alone),...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Brookley 3/3/43; Morrison 9/3/43; Assigned Harris Prov. Gp, en route from Marrakech to St Eval, Cornwall, UK 7/4/43 force landed Lytchett Minster, near Poole, Dorset, low on gas with Talmadge Wilson, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/3/43; Smoky Hill 26/3/43; Dow Fd 31/5/43; Assigned 305BG Chelveston 15/6/43; transferred 334BS/95BG [BG-K] Alconbury 16/6/43; Framlingham 12/5/43; 335BS [OE-K] Horham 15/6/43; 12/9/43 with A.R. Witt f/d RAF Morton Calence (?); 20...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 2/4/43; Smoky Hill 27/4/43; Dow Field 19/5/43; Presque Is 20/5/43; Geiger 26/5/43; Presque Is 28/5/43; Assigned 349BS/100BG [XR-M] Thorpe Abbotts 5/6/43; Missing in Action Munster 10/10/43 with Ed Stork, Co-pilot: John Minerich,...
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 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/5/43; Assigned to the 547BS/384BG [S0-G] Grafton Underwood 24/5/43, then the 546BS [BK-G]; Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Maj Maurice Stanley Dillingham, Co-pilot:...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 31 January 2018 17:57:52 | william henry | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Correct typos |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 January 2016 19:59:25 | Mags | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 July 2015 23:40:10 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of 1BD Munster formation per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 July 2015 23:39:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistic of 3BD Munster formation per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 July 2015 23:36:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy fighters to statistics of the Enschede formation per "the Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 July 2015 23:34:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 4-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 May 2015 09:39:29 | jdossetter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thafhs.com/maps.php?lat=51.9505&lon=7.63439&target_name=MUNS... |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 May 2015 09:38:40 | jdossetter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thafhs.com/maps.php?lat=51.9505&lon=7.63439&target_name=MUNS... |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 April 2015 20:43:13 | simaguire | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
B17s Over Berlin |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 April 2015 20:40:59 | simaguire | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
B17s Over Berlin |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 April 2015 20:38:24 | simaguire | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
B17s Over Berlin |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 11:48:41 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:16 | 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'. |
||
