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
17 August 1943
Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
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)
Flying Fortress B-17G 42-30237 "Stump Jumper" (379th BG 524th BS WA-V) in formation. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A19559-25151AC.
Photo taken 31 July 1943. Back, left to right : Rudolph A. Thigpen, Victor Ciganek, Gerald H. Tucker, James A. Bowcock, Jarvis Allen, Albert T. Diminno Front Left to right : Carl N. Smith, Jack A. Hargis, Capen R. Simons, William H. Turcotte. Some men are still wearing the dry clothing supplied to them by the British Air Sea Rescue.
Back row left to right: Waist gunner: Gerald Tucker, Ball turret gunner: Rudy Thigpen ( not on final mission), Waist gunner: Albert Di Minno, Tail gunner: Leland Judy, Flt Engineer: Jarvis Allen, Radio Operator: Victor Ciganek Front row left to right: Pilot: Jack Hargis, Co-Pilot: Carl Smith, R.C. Martin ( not on final mission), Bombardier: Edward Winslow
42-30139 JD-O, SNUFFY, 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group, MIA 17-08-1943, MACR 294
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 385th Bomb Group ditches in the Mediterranean during a mission, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "A-73." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#28: Fortresses ditched in Mediterranean.' Censor no: 282436. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 385th Bomb Group ditches in the Mediterranean during a mission, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "A-76." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#29: Fortresses ditched in Mediterranean.' Censor no: 282437. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Not yet known
The mission flown on 17-Aug-43, the 1st anniversary of the 1st mission flown by the 8th Air Force, is probably the most written about mission of the war. This is the famous Schweinfurt/Regensburg mission on which 60 B-17s are lost. It has been dubbed "Black Tuesday." It is this mission that finally brought home to the air war planners the true vulnerability of the famous B-17 "Flying Fortress" and the critical need for fighter escorts that could accompany the bomber streams to and from targets deep in Germany as "Little Friends."
The need for such a mission was suggested by General Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in March 1943 in accordance with the "Casablanca Directive" (21-Jan-43 cf. CASABLANCA DIRECTIVE in the Missions index for details) and the "Pointblank Directive" (14-Jun-43 cf. POINTBLANK DIRECTIVE in the Missions index for details)
This was one of the most complex missions attempted up to that time in the war and directed deep into Germany to bomb the Messerschmitt production factories at Regensburg and the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt, Germany. Success would require: close timing; cooperation of the weather in England and across the Continent; precision flying and a goodly measure of luck. While fighter escort was to be a component, it could only accompany the bombers for a short distance into the Continent because of the limited range of the P-47. However, USAAF planners were still very much convinced that the B-17 Flying Fortress and close formation flying would be sufficient to allow the bombers to destroy these targets.
The planned mission was divided into three Air Task Forces. 1st Air Task Force was composed of 146 B-17s, led by Colonel Curtis LeMay of 4th Bomb Wing. This task force was composed of three Combat Wings (CW): 403CW would consist of 62 aircraft: 96BG (21) Lead Group; 388BG (21) Low Group; and 390BG (20) High Group; 401CW would consist of 42 aircraft: 94BG (21) Lead Group; 385BG (21) Low Group; and 402CW consisted of 42 aircraft: 95BG (21) Lead Group; and 100BG (21) Low Group. The Combat Wings would take off at three minute intervals bewteen Comabt Wings with that target being the Messerschmitt factories at Regensburg. The formation would bomb the target and then proceed south to bases in North Africa. It was hoped that this formation would lure the German fighters away from the two Air Task Forces of 1st Bomb Division that would attack the ball bearing works a Schweinfurt.
1st Air Division, led by Brigadier General Robert Williams, would consist of 230 B-17s divided among 2nd Air Task Force, led by Colonel William M. Gross, and 3rd Air Task Force, led by Colonel Howard M. Turner. 2nd Air Task Force would consist of 116 aircraft divided into two Combat Wings (CW): 101CW would consist of 57 B-17s: 91BG (18) Lead Group; 381BG (20) Low Group; and Composite Group A (High Group) consisting of 19 B-17s: 306BG (7); 91BG (6); and 381BG (6). The other Combat Wing (CW) of 2nd Air Task Force was a Composite Wing which would consist of 59 B-17s: 351BG (21) Lead Group; 384BG (18) Low Group; and Composite Group B (High Group) consisting of 20 B-17s: 306BG (9); 305BG (9) and 92BG (2). These CWs were to take off at five minute intervals ten minutes after 1st Air Task Force and attack Schweinfurt.
3rd Air Task Force would consist of 114 B-17s divided into two Combat Wings (CW): 102CW would consist of 61 B-17s: 306BG (21) Lead Group; 92BG (20) Low Group; and 305BG (20) High Group; 103 Provisional CW would consist of 53 B-17s: 379BG (18) Lead Group; 303BG (18) Low Group; and Composite C (High Group) 17 B-17s: 303BG (10), 379BG (6), 384BG (1). These two Air Task Forces were to take off at five minute intervals between CWs, twelve minute intervals between Task Forces and ten minutes after 1st Air Task Force. All Air Task Forces were to fly the same course out of England and into Germany. 1st Air Task Force would proceed to bases in North Africa and the Schweinfurt force would bomb and then return to their bases in England. Everything seemed to be set. 230 B-17s would attack at Schweinfurt and 146 at Regensburg.
On the morning of 17-Aug-43 the weather over the American bases in England was terrible. Ground fog, light drizzle, and completely overcast skies caused the take-off time schedule to get seriously degraded. 1st Air Task Force under Col. LeMay had much training in instrument take-offs and they managed to get in the air an assemble pretty much on schedule. The 230 B-17s of first Bomb Division were not well trained for taking-off in the conditions and they waited and incredible one and one half hours for the fog to lift before they took off. This was disasterous for any element of surprise for the force attacking Schweinfurt and it meant that whatever fighter force engaging LeMay's 1st Air Division would have the opportunity to re-fuel and attack the Schweinfurt Air Task Forces.
The Germans put up every aircraft they could muster to meet the strung out bomber formations and the anti-aircraft fire was horrendous. Of the 230 B-17s despatched to Schweinfurt, 183 managed to hit Schweinfurt, 1 dropped on Frankfurt and 4 attacked targets of opportunity. 36 B-17s Failed to Return crewed by 361 airmen (disposition of these based on MACR records and documented rescues is: 67KIA 247POW 27EVD 20RTD [rescued by ASR]). One MACR #283 was issued for B-17F 42-5712 "My Prayer" 91BG/324BS which actually returned to England but was DBR from which there were 7POW 3RTD. In addition there were 3KIA and 12WIA in returning aircraft. Adjusting the totals for the Schweinfurt Groups: 70KIA, 12WIA, 254POW, 27EVD, 20RTD (rescued) and 3RTD OK. The bomber gunners claimed 140-19-36 of the attacking German fighters, but these figures were grossly exaggerated (The combined totals of bomber gunner claims in both the Schweinfurt and Regeansburg attacks was 288-37-99. German records claim that 21 aircraft were shot down by the bomber gunners another 21 were shot down by fighters and 5 were lost on take-off and landing accidents. 16 airmen killed and 9 wounded)
Of the 146 B-17s that were despatched to Regensburg 24 B-17s Failed to Return crewed by 24 airmen(FTR)(disposition of these based on MACR records and confirmed rescues is: 34KIA, 130POW, 16EVD, 20INT and 40RTD [rescued by ASR]). One B-17 was DBR but crew OK. In aircraft that managed to return to North African bases 4KIA and 9WIA. Adjustiing the totals for the Regensburg Groups: 38KIA, 9WIA, 130POW, 16EVD, 20INT and 40RTD. The bomber gunners claimed 140-19-36 of attacking aircraft (grossly exaggerated).
MESSERSCHMITT AIRCRAFT COMPLEX
B-17 Flying Fortress
All aircraft in this element continue on to bases in North Africa.
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 | 298.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 146 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 127 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 24 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 50 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 38 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 9 |
| Number of people Evaded | 16 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 130 |
| Number of people Interned | 20 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 40 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 140 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 19 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 36 |
BALL BEARING FACTORIES
B-17 Flying Fortress
Anniversary of 1st 8th Air Force mission. Deepest penetration to date. 60 bombers lost. "Black Tuesday." The 91st Bomb Group leads the mission. The 381st Bomb Group suffers the highest losses of all 8th Air Force Bomb Groups on this mission (11 aircraft Missing in Action (MIA))
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 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 | 424.38 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 230 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 188 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 36 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 118 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 70 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 12 |
| Number of people Evaded | 27 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 254 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 20 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 148 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 18 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 63 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
Co-pilot, Simpson crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-30245 'Lucky Lady'. Mission #20 "Black Tuesday" to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 381. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III and Stalag VIIA.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer | 381st Bomb Group
ETTG, Wright crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-30028 'Great In Lani' or 'Sweet is Le Lani'. Mission #20 "Black Tuesday" to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 380. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 10 x combat missions. Flew Kassel raid 28-July, lost control cables on B-17 42-29974 by flak damage. Crash landed in B-17 42-5822 at Norfolk RAF base returning crew with 4 crew members wounded. Failed to Return (FTR...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
Pilot. Atkinson crew. 381st BG, 533rd BS. Shot down 17 August 1943 in AC #42-29983 'Uncle Sammy'. Mission #20 "Black Tuesday" to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 398. Killed in Action (KIA). Buried by the Germans in Community...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 381st Bomb Group
Radio operator, Painter crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS, 8th AF. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-30140 'King Malfunction II'. Mission #20 "Black Tuesday" to the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 379. Prisoner of War (POW).
South Carolina
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
RWG, Zum crew, 381st BG, 535th BS.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 13 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Schweinfurt raid 17-Aug-43. Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Dorrebach, 6 miles W of Bingen, Germany Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1350
Award: PH.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG 545th BS on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #48 dated 13 July 1943, Drewry Fry Wofford Crew. 3 combat missions.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-O] Bangor 29/8/42; Bassingbourn 29/9/42; in taxi accident with John Hardin 18/11/42 at RNAS Yeovilton; MIZPAH - THE BEARDED LADY aka THE BEARDED BEAUTY.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-O] Bangor 10/9/42; Bassingbourn 11/10/42; Missing in Action 16m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Tony Arcaro, Co-pilot: Roman Niemczyk, Bombardier: Bill Glover, Radio Operator: Delmar Kaech, Waist gunner: Elmer Lindholm, Waist gunner:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL- ] Bangor 6/9/42; Bassingbourn 1/10/42; 1m transferred 324BS [DF-Y]; Missing in Action 27+m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Bill Munger, Co-pilot: Dave Gladhart, Navigator: John Brickley, Bombardier: Tony Kalupy, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 368BS/306BG [BO-D] New Castle 4/10/42; Thurleigh 26/10/42; transferred 369BS [WW- ]; transferred 544BS/384BG [SU-A] Grafton Underwood 5/9/43; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 15/3/44; Returned to the USA Homestead 14/5/44; Reconstruction Finance...
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 365BS/305BG [XK-W] Presque Is 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 25/10/42; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Doug Mutschler, Co-pilot: Ed Carter, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Carlton Boberg (3 Killed in Action), Navigator: Bill Bagwell...
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
Delivered Denver 4/1/43; Salina 13/1/43; Homestead 1/2/43; Morrison 6/2/43; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-Q] Bassingbourn 25/2/43; Missing in Action 13m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Pilot Charles A. Bennett; Co-Pilot Stanley A. Dahlman; Navigator Adrian T. Van...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/43; Salina 12/2/43; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-H/J/N/D] Chelveston 4/3/43. Completed missions as "Spitz Fire" under command of Lt. Frank R. Spitznagel Jr. until 8/19/43; transferred 381BG Ridgewell 11/9/43 1m; 526BS/379BG [LF-U]...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 2017 12:53:28 | ThomBear | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
added a/c 41-24560 per post-mission report. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 June 2016 18:11:09 | Rainer | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Martin Middlebrook - The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 June 2016 18:08:19 | Rainer | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Martin Middlebrook - The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 May 2015 23:32:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-May-2015. Corrected KIA count and RTD count and added bomber gunner claims to statisitcs based on MACR records; "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; 303BG Mission Report http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/060.pdf |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 May 2015 23:30:20 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-May-2015. Corrected KIA count and RTD count and added bomber gunner claims to statisitcs based on MACR records; "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; 303BG Mission Report http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/060.pdf |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 May 2015 23:24:10 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-May-2015. Correcting typo in Mission Narrative. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 May 2015 23:19:54 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on 303BG Mission Report http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/060.pdf. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 May 2015 22:53:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-May-2015. Began the Mission Narrative for the Schweifurt/Regensburg mission. Sources provided upon conclusion of narrative. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 April 2015 20:53:32 | simaguire | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
B17s Over Berlin |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 April 2015 20:49:16 | simaguire | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
B17s Over Berlin |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 April 2015 20:38:59 | simaguire | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
B17s Over Berlin |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 11:28:50 | 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 18:43:17 | 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'. |
||
