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23 March 1944
MACR 3455 42-52587 466th BG | 785th BS 23 Mar 1944
MACR 3456 41-29466 "Dark Rhapsody" 466th BG | 785th BS 23 Mar 1944
Not yet known
The industrial areas of Brunswick, Munster, Osnabruck, and Achmer, Germany as well as the airfield at Handorf, Germany become the targets for a force of 768 heavy bombers despatched by all three Air Divisions. The bomber gunner claims on German aircraft were bundled in the source data as 33-8-11. These are sated in the statistics of 3rd Air Division. Mission Summary follows:
3rd Air Division: A combined force of 224 B-17s from: 94BG; 95BG/96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG are despatched to attack the industrial areas of Brunswick, Germany as a secondary target. 205 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 others bomb Targets of Opportunity in the Burnswick area. 17 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 64KIA 95POW 1EVD 10RTD (rescuded by ASR). 221 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returning aircraft are KIA and 6 others are WIA. There are no other losses or casualties. The combined claims of the bomber gunners on attacking German aircraft were 33-8-11.
1st Air Division: A combined force of 300 B-17F from: 91BG; 92BG;303BG; 305BG;306BG;351BG; 379BG; 381BG; 384BG; 401BG; and 457BG are despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Munster, Germany as a secondary target. 47 are effective on the target; 83 attack the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 67 bomb the industrial area of Ahlen, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 19 aircraft bomb the industrial area of Neubeckham, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 80 aircraft bomb other Targets of Opportunity in the Munster area. 6 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 22KIA 45POW. 56 aire damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is KIA and another 3 are WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
2nd AIr Division: A combined force of 244 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; 453BG; 458BG; and 466BG are despatched to bomb the primary target of the airfield at Handorf, Germany. 68 are effective on the target; 36 bomb the industrial area of Achmer as a Target of Opportunity (TO); 21 bomb the airfield at Achmer, Germany; 12 bomb the indsutrail area of Munster, Germany as a secondary target; 52 bomb the industrial area of OSanbruck, Germany as a Target of Opportunity (TO); and 14 aircraft bomb other Targets of Opportunity in the area of Munster, Germany. 6 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 28KIA 29POW(1DIC) 1EVD. 45 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which aircraft from 3rd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 6.77 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 3 |
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 35.17 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 14 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 14 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 57.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 21 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 21 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 90.43 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 36 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 36 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 238.52 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 67 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 67 |
AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
B-17 Flying Fortress
Weather conditions scatter the attack. Groups participating are all part of 3rd Bomb Division. The bomber gunner claims of all 3 Air Divisions are included in the statistics of 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
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 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
Group
The 452nd Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deopham Green, Norfolk, from January 1944. The air crews hit strategic sites in Germany but also supported the movement of ground forces across Europe after D-Day. On 6 June 1944 itself, the Group...
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 | 469.04 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 221 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 205 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 7 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 221 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 22 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 45 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 33 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 11 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 295.48 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 83 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 83 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
Groups participating are all of 2nd Bomb Division. Losses for all targets bundled.
HANDORF (Primary)
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 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory...
Group
The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the...
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
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
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne...
Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged...
Group
The 466th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Attlebridge, Norfolk, during the last year of the war in Europe. The Group flew 232 missions in the course of the year and celebrated the 100th one by inviting local people onto the base to mark the...
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 | 170.82 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 109 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 68 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 6 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 28 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 29 |
| Number of people Died in Captivity | 1 |
AIRCRAFT FACTORIES
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 30.14 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 12 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 12 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
This is the secondary target for the B-17s Groups participating are all of 1st Bomb Division.
457th BG MISSION NO. 18 - LIPPSTADT, GERMANY
23 MARCH 1944
Twenty-six aircraft returned to the air field at Lippstadt, the scene of the first operational mission, to bomb an operational fighter field. This field was used by Me-109s and I lOs, and for storage of FW-190s and Me-109s. The Group led the 94th Combat Wing, flying fourth in the Division formation. Lt. Col. Raymond L. Cobb (Wing A-3) was Air Commander and Lt. Vinton H. Mays was pilot.
Heavy clouds were encountered over the target area, forcing the Group to bomb other targets, particularly Munster. Some craft bombed targets of opportunity (Drensteinfurt). Bombing results were unobserved. Fighter opposition and flak were light. There were no personnel casualties and all planes returned to the Base. Smoke bombs carried by the lead craft exploded prematurely inside the aircraft causing discomfort to the crew.
In addition to the lead box, the Group supplied seven aircraft for a composite box that had Gutersloh for its target. It was covered with clouds and Munster was bombed as the secondaty target.
Crews reported that apparently the Germans were shooting up a shell projecting white ribbons of smoke resembling the markers dropped by PFF or lead aircraft.
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 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
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 | 167.43 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 131 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 47 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 17 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 56 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 67 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 6 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 95 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Groups from 1st Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 67.64 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 19 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 19 |
INDUSTRIAL AREA
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 130.62 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 52 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 52 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 94th Bomb Group
Linnie Arrowood was killed on 23 March 1944 in the crash in the Channel of B-17G #42-31120.
...
Military | Major | Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Shot down 8 April 1944 in B-24 #4128650 'Rooster. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 446th Bomb Group
Flew 25 missions, ending just before D-Day. Flew on D Day just to see it. According to him, he never saw a German fighter but did see lots of flak.
Military | Captain | Pilot/Lead Pilot | 458th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Bombardier / L,R Waist Gunner, Nose Gunner / Togglier | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) in 42-31083; A/C exploded mid-air near Downham Market, England. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4231691. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 11 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Sorau, Germany mission 11-Apr-44 'Tenny Belle' exploded in mid-air near Downham Market, England. Killed in Action (KIA). No MACR
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
Bombardier on 1st Lt Robert O. Stine's "Shade Ruff" crew. Shot down on 11 April 1944 on his 17th combat mission in B-17G #42-39881 "Gloria J." Prisoner of War (POW). Detained as a prisoner of the government of Germany in Stalag Luft III (Sagan,...
B-24 Liberator
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 26/6/43; Smoky Hill 13/7/43; Kearney 16/7/43; Dow Fd 19/7/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 20/7/43; (34m) transferred Aphrodite project as OLIN'S 69'ERS; when War Weary, fuselage cut down and vehicle windshield fitted before open...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/9/43; Gr Island 7/10/43; Romulus 10/10/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 15/10/43; Missing in Action Augsburg 13/4/44 with Art Nelson, Co-pilot: Art Livermore, Navigator: Maurice White, Bombardier: Bill Matuszewski, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 18/11/43; Gt Falls 6/12/43; New Castle 14/12/43; Presque Is 16/12/43; Assigned 326BS/92BG [JW-G] Podington 4/1/44; Missing in Action Brunswick 23/3/44 with Henry Murdock, Co-pilot: Frank Evans, Navigator: Martin Maher, Bombardier: Paul...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 3/1/44; Kearney 14/1/44; Assigned 525BS/379BF [FR-O] Kimbolton 19/2/44; Missing in Action Berlin 7/5/44 with Clarry Darnell, Co-pilot: John Jones, Radio Operator: Tom Wilkens, Ball turret gunner: Bill Snider, Waist gunner: Lewis Rule...
B-24 Liberator
Flew two combat missions.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/44; Gr Island 20/2/44; Grenier 10/3/44; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 12/3/44; Missing in Action Rostock 11/4/44 with Art Thomas, Co-pilot: John Harper, Navigator: Joe Tilley, Bombardier: Lew Clemens, Flight engineer/top...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 February 2018 00:47:05 | TennyBelle | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
8th AF Database |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 September 2016 05:15:28 | 466thHistorian | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
"Attlebridge Arsenal" - John Woolnough |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 18:38:32 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Mar-2016. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of 3rd AD at Brunswick element based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 March 2016 18:35:20 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narratie based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman, "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACRS. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 14:15:59 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma18.html |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2014 10:29:37 | LucyMM | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Target pin for 'BRUNSWICK (Secondary)' had automatically been created near Brunswick in Australia. Changed this to Brunswick, Germany. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2014 10:28:19 | LucyMM | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Target pin for 'HANDORF (Primary)' had automatically been created near Adelaide in Australia. Changed this to Handorf, Germany. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2014 10:28:08 | LucyMM | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Target pin for 'HANDORF (Primary)' had automatically been created near Adelaid in Australia. Changed this to Handorf, Germany. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2014 10:26:09 | LucyMM | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Target pin had automatically been created at Munster in Ireland. Changed this to Munster, Germany. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:12 | 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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