617

9 September 1944

Mission Details

Netherlands / HEIDELBERG-DARMSTADT-WURZBURG-FRANKFURT/MAIN-KOBLENZ

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Notes: Fighter-bomber mission. A mix of 194 P-47s and P-51s are despatched to bomb and strafe targets in this area. Claims include 5-0-2 on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 37.8 T

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15133937 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heaven's Above/Panhandle Kid
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left to right) Carl Johnson - Nose Gunner, Chuck Frazer - Gunner, Charles Gretz - Top Turret Gunner, "Bubba" Monroe - Co-Pilot, (front row, left to right) Dick Eselgroth - Navigator, Al Miller - Bombardier, Billy Duke - Pilot "Luke" Lucas - Radio Operator, Baldamore Garcia - Engineer, "Pan" Panarese - Tail Gunner . Image via RM Eselgroth. Written on slide casing: '
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Top O The Mark
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97696) nicknamed "Terrible Termite" of the 96th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '297696.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Terrible Termite
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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'.