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14 May 1943
B-24 41-24278 "Miss Delores".
B-24 41-24278 "Miss Delores".
Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed "SpitzFire" (Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)
Lt. Carroll Dayle Briscoe flying the Joan of Arc (42-29477), the plane his crew became known for. 1943
Not yet known
Today's operations will be the most extensive yet mounted by VIII Bomber Command. The operations call for a "maximum effort". Whereas in the past a single target or those close together have been chosen, today's effort is against widley separated targets. The main effort for today will be the shipyards, U-boat pens and harbour facilities at Kiel, Germany. This target is defended by a substantial configuration of anti-aircraft batteries and fighter aircraft. The experienced Bomb Groups of 1st Bomb Wing and 2 Bomb Wing are designated to attack this target. Because of the distance to the target, figther escort is not possible. In addition, 92BG which has been operating as the host organization of a Combat Crew Replacement Center has been re-designated as a full combat group.
The main force despatched against Kiel is a formation of 115 B-17s: 91BG (27); 92BG (7); 303BG (27); 305BG (28) and 306BG (26). Despite the heavy defenses 109 of the 115 depatched are effective on the target. Aircraft losses are light at 3 B-17s MIA. The bomber gunners put up a magnificent defense claiming 41-11-26 of the enemy. This force is joined by 21 B-24s despatched by 44BG. 17 of 21 are effective on the target. This force faces significant fighter attacks and 5 aircraft are MIA. The bomber gunners slug it out with the Luftwaffe and claim 21-13-1.The 44th BG is awarded the first Distinguished Unit Citation in the 8th Air Force for their actions on this date.
Meanwhile, the Ford and General Motors vehicle factories at Antwerp, Belgium are the primary target for 42 B-17s despatched from: 94BG (21) and 95BG (21). 38 of 42 are effective on the target. NOTE: Roger A. Freeman reports 2 aircraft MIA from this formation 1 from 94BG and 1 from 95BG but only 1 can be supported from MACR records. The bomber gunners claim 5-1-4 on enemy aircraft. This formation receives fighter support from 118 P-47s despatched from 4FG, 56FG and 78FG.
The German air depot Courtrai (now Kortrijk) Belgium is the primary target for 39 B-17s despatched from: 96BG (21) and 351BG (18), thus redeeming themselves from the turn-backs of yesterday and logging their first mission. 34 of 39 are effective on the target. 2 B-17s are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 0-0-1 on enemy aircraft.
A power station at Ijmuiden, Holland is the primary target the 322nd Bomb Group (Medium). This Bomb Group is equipped with the Martin B-26 Marauder. 12 B-26s are despatched and 11 are effective on the target. This is the first mission for the 322BG and the first use of the B-26 by the 8th Air Force in the ETO. In October 1943, they will be transferred to the 9th Air Force for use in tactical, rather than strategic, bombing missions. 1 B-26 crashes upon return, 1KIA 5RTD, aircraft is salvaged.
FORD and GM PLANTS
B-17 Flying Fortress
Fighters escort this element only.
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 | 86.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 42 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 15 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 10 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
The 96th Bomb Group and 351st Bomb Group fly their first missions where they actually bomb the target.
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 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 75.40 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 39 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 34 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 10 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 8 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
VELSEN POWER STATION
B-26 Marauder
The 322nd Bomb Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its operations from this date through 24-Jul-44. This is their first mission. The attack on Ijmuiden is made at low level. This is the first US medium bomb group to become operational in the UK
Group
The 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was activated on 19-Jun-1942 at MacDill Field, Florida with B-26B Marauder aircraft. In late September 1942 the unit moved to Drane Field, Florida. The Ground echelon sailed for the UK aboard the Queen Elizabeth...
| Tonnage dropped | 10.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 12 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 11 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 9 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 5 |
SHIP YARDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
This is the first mission for 92nd Bomb Group since 9-Oct-42. One -B-17 of 91st Bomb Group bombs Suderoog Island as target of last resort (included in bomb total). There is no fighter escort for this 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 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 | 264.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 115 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 109 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 20 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 5 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 10 |
SHIP YARDS
B-24 Liberator
The 44th Bomb Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for this mission, the first DUC to be awarded in the 8th Air Force. One of the B-24s is abandoned by the crew near their base (all RTD) and the aircraft crashes into the English Channel near Sheringham, England.
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 117.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 21 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 17 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 9 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 26 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 12 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 24 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 11 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined squad 14 October 1942. Shot down 14 May 1943 in B-24D 41-23819 'Rugged Bunny' while serving as Navigator. Prisoner of War (POW) imprisoned at Stalag Luft 3 and moved to 49-11.
POW
Me 109 probable 3/22/43
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group on 15 Jan 1943. He was the 35th Officer to complete 25 missions. Reported on 05 Feb 1945 with the 2AF weather scouts. Retired as a Colonel from the USAF in 1972.
...
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DSC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.
Post war: Remained in USAF, serving in Korean conflict.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined squad 3 August 1942. Shot down 14 May 1943 in B-24D 41-23819 'Rugged Bunny' while serving as Tail Gunner. Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag 9C. Castillo was knocked out of his turret by the fighter attacks. Upon bailout, he was taken to a German...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot/Command Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Crossley was credited with 12 confirmed e/a kills. A record for 8th AF gunners.
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 14 May 1943 in B-17F #42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS. Battle damaged aircraft crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).MACR 15593
Mission participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On 3 January 1943 in B-24D 41-23371 while serving as Radio Operator the aircraft made a crash-landing near the crossroads south of Puncheston, Pembrokeshire returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the...
Military | Colonel | Co-Pilot; Pilot; Group Commanding Officer | 351st Bomb Group
William Hatcher Jr was born in Grand Rapids, was brought up in Detroit’s north end and attended Northern High School. After his enlistment in the Air Corps, he followed pilot training courses and rose rapidly through the ranks.
...
B-24 Liberator
B-24D 41-23819 'Rugged Buggy" 44BG/66BS, Shipdham was shot down 14-May-43 on a mission to bomb the port facilities at Kiel. Germany. The aircraft crashed at Eckenforde, Germany. 2KIA 8POW MACR 15509.
...
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) hit by flak over Kiel, Germany, and shortly after all four engines stopped. It crashed into the Baltic Sea south of Ærø, Denmark. 3 x KIA, 7 x POW. 14-May-43. MACR
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-M] Bangor 2/9/42; Bassingbourn 26/9/42; Missing in Action 10+m Kiel 14/5/43 with Bill Broley, Co-pilot: Albert Davies, Navigator: Armando Ambalagi, Bombardier: Joe Darmiento, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Clyne, Radio...
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
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-R] Bangor 25/9/42; Molesworth 26/10/42; transferred AFSC 25/5/43 for special gun tests; 1 CCRC Bovingdon /43; Returned to the USA 20/12/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 9/10/45.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/2/43; Rapid City 22/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Morrison 14/4/43; Dow Fd 21/4/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-W] Alconbury 25/4/43; 3m, Written off after another aircraft 42-29685 exploded nearby on base 27/5/43, Salvaged. PASSION FLOWER.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/2/43; Walker 27/2/43; Salina 10/3/43; Smoky Hill 20/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 18/4/43; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 510BS/351BG [TU-D] Polebrook 11/7/43; 35m 2 BAD Warton...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Plane Mischief Maker II entered combat approximately Jun43 under command of Capt V.L. Iverson after the original Mischief Maker was damaged beyond repair. After this crew completed 25 missions Maj. Iverson was retained for HQ USSTAF, the crew...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 January 2015 21:51:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 1-Jan-2015. Corrected statistics per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 January 2015 21:47:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 1-Jan-15. Revised statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy" Roger A. Freeman, MACRS 15498, 16055 and 15593. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 January 2015 21:40:23 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 1-Jan-15. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop; "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman; "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | 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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