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26 November 1943
B-24 Liberator #42-40749 'Sack Time Sally' 565th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF and crew, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. Crew: Standing (L-R) Roy Braly - Pilot, Norbert Gebhard - Co-Pilot, Merlin Verberg - Bombardier, James McGahee - Navigator Kneeling (L-R) Essman Matthews - Radio Operator, Virgil Hoffman - Engineer, Andrew S Toth - Waist Gunner, George Scott - Ball Turret John Filenger - Tail Gunner, Edward Goodall - Waist Gunner
Page 91 of the 401st 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). 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 90 of the 401st 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). 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 89 of the 401st 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). 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 88 of the 401st 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). 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 87 of the 401st 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). 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 86 of the 401st 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). 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 85 of the 401st 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). 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.
Missing Aircrew Report, a/c 42-30832, 26 Nov 1943
Mission 138 Report, a/c 42-30832
Not yet known
The industrial areas of Bremen, Germany are the target for this massive mission (largest to date) of 505 B-17s which included 14 B-17 Pathfinders from 482BG spread among the B-17 formations - 13 of these completed the mission and 7 were damaged.
This mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 283 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (29); 92BG (23); 303BG (35); 305BG (22); 306BG (29); 351BG (38); 379BG (37); 381BG (29) 384BG (21) and 401BG (20). This is the first mission for 401BG. 253 aircraft are effective on the target. 19 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 57KIA 105POW 1DIC 27RTD (rescued by ASR). 4 aircraft are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings 2KIA 1WIA 27RTD. 9 airmen were KIA and 31WIA in returning aircraft. 96 aircraft were damaged. Radio problems and poor formation discipline were cited as contributing factors. The bomber gunners claim 12-3-10 of attacking German fighters.
The second element was a combinded force of 107 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division that included: 95BG (6); 96BG (43); 100BG (9); 388BG (43); 390BG (6). 97 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 28KIA 2POW. One of these from 388BG was struck by incendiaries dropped from above by a 96BG aircraft. 43 aircraft are damaged. There are no bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft in this element.
The third element is a combined force of 101 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (26); 93BG (25); 389BG (26); and 392BG (24). 77 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 26KIA 6POW 3EVD. 1 airman is KIA and 4 others WIA in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners in this element claim 4-0-0 of attacking German aircraft.
The ball bearing industries at Paris, France are the target for a combinded force of 128 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division that included: 385BG (22); 94BG (42); 390BG (21); 100BG (21); and 95BG (22). However, weather and cloud cover prevents bombing. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 18KIA 14POW 8EVD. 18 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returning aircraft are WIA. The bomber gunners in this element claim 8-2-3 of attacking German aircraft.
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
This is the second element to hit Bremen.
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 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 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 | 265.60 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 114 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 103 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 43 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 29 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 1 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
482nd Bomb Group 13 of 14 B-17s equipped with Pathfinder (PFF) are included in totals. 7 Pathfinder (PFF)-equipped are damaged. The 401st Bomb Group flies its first mission.
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 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 | 728.66 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 290 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 260 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 19 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 93 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 71 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 37 |
| Number of people Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 106 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 45 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 12 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 10 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-25 Mitchell
13 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop 57 tons on Targets of Opportunity.
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 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 | 210.84 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 101 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 77 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 27 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 4 |
BALL BEARING FACTORIES
B-17 Flying Fortress
Complete cloud cover over target - mission aborted. No fighter escort for this element.
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
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 | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 128 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 18 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 18 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
| Number of people Evaded | 8 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 14 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 3 |
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 94th Bomb Group
Born in 1922 in Pickton, Hopkins County, Texas. Enlisted at Tyler, Smith County, Texas on 16 Oct 1942. 2 weeks til he had to report for duty. 2 years of HS, Ht:66, Wt: 121. Married before he left for the military to Miss Grace Edwards on 26 Oct 1942....
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
Co-pilot, Duncan crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS. Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29506 'Full Boost!'. Mission #46 to the chemical plant at Leverkusen, Germany. Diverted to the steel works at Solinger, Germany. MACR 1578. Killed in Action (KIA)....
Military | Second Lieutenant | 1091 B-17 Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 26 November 1943 in B-17 #42-29987. Prisoner of War (POW) Stalag Luft 1. MACR 1662
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
Pilot, Baer crew, 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Forced to ditch in the North Sea on mission #62 to Brunswick, Germany on 30 Jan 1944 in B-17F #42-30029 'Chap's Flying Circus'. MACR 2495. Lt Baer radioed that they were running out of fuel and may not make...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. On his first mission, whilst attempting repair on ball turret in B-17 42-37838 'Fancy Nancy', A/C was in collision with B-17 42-30317, ball turret was shorn off with the loss of Sgt Baranik. Killed in Action (KIA)....
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 5 January 1944 in B-17 #4230724. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Radio Operator | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #4231084. Killed in Action (KIA).
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
B-24 Liberator
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943.
...
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 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
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 Denver 5/2/43; Salina 12/2/43; Rapid City 16/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Morrison 29/3/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG Alconbury 5/4/43, but en route to UK had landing accident with Bill Lindley at Barcelona, Venzuela; 1m with John Storie [wia] 19/3/43;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 22/3/43; Cheyenne 31/3/43; Romulus 10/4/43; Assigned 366BS/305BG [KY-F] Chelveston 18/5/43; Transferred to the 547th Bombardment squadron, squadron code SO-Q, 384th Bombardment Group, station 106, Grafton Underwood on 19 September 1943...
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 5/2/43; Assigned 353BS/301BG Morrison 25/3/43; transferred 100BG Thorpe Abbotts /43; 358BS/303BG [VK-O] Molesworth 13/7/43; battle damaged Bremen 26/11/43 with Bill Fort wia-frostbite, Co-pilot: McDonald Riddick, Bombardier: Chas...
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:...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 21 June 2017 10:13:44 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associations from 401st Bomb Group unit history . |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 January 2016 20:08:17 | Mags | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 20:30:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to Paris element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 20:29:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to 2BD element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 20:28:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to 1st BD element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 July 2015 20:25:57 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 14-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| 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'. |
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