785

7 January 1945

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

ACHERN

Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

BIELEFELD

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

BITBURG

Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 171 : BITBURG, GERMANY : 7 JANUARY, 1945 The highway intersection at Bitburg, where eight highways converge, was the tactical target for the 457th Bomb Group. The 457th comprised the 94th B Combat Wing with Captain Dozier as Air Commander. Assembly was without incident, other than difficulty in getting into Wing formation. Division assembly line was flown approximately as briefed, with the Group in proper position. The route to the IP was flown on time, on course and approximately at briefed altitude. The IP was reached a little right of course because the G-H navigator brought the formation south of course in order to start the bomb run. The route from the IP to the target was flown by means of (i-H navigation, and course varied from the briefed route. The Group bombed the primary target by means of G-H equipment because of ten tenths cloud coverage. Bombs were dropped from 24,900 feet. Bomb results were unobserved due to clouds. Flak was light and none of the craft sustained damage.

Danish civillians inspect the wreckage of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107082) of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'St Heddinge 13th May 1944 at 18:30 Hrs. 8th AAF, 1st Air Division, 41st Combat Wing, 379th Bombardment Group, Squadron?.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

BLANKENHEIM

Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

COLOGNE/KALK

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

COLOGNE/LUTZEL

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

DURRMENZ

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

EUSKIRCHEN

Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

HAMM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

HOENZOLLERN

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

KAISERSLAUTERN

Description: RAILROAD

KALL

Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

KARLSUHE

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

KOBLENZ

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

LANDAU

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

LIMBURG

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

PADERBORN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

RASTATT

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

RODENKIRCHEN

Description: HIGHWAY BRIDGE

ZWEIBRUCKEN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-824176
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-716310
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13178814 / O-716614
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37705979
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dynamite John
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lucky Lady : Screaming Eagle
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Farmer's Daughter
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Dog
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Correction to Connection to reflect Bomb Divisions redesignation to Air Divisions from 1 Jan 1945.

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

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'.