501
28 July 1944Image reloaded to correct orientation. Original upload from user https://www.americanairmuseum.com/user/7842.
From Donald Muckerman's records kept during his time in England during WWII.
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 20 T
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: Recalled because of weather. 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491 Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
BRUSSELS VILVORDE (Primary)
Description: FUEL DUMPS, SUPPLY SITES AND A BRIDGE
Notes: Recalled because of weather. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-24s is 34th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group, 493rd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
LEIPZIG/TAUCHA (Opportunistic)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 90 T
MERSEBURG/LEUNA (Primary)
Description: OIL REFINERY
Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group. ___________________________________________________________________________ The 1st and 3rd Air Divisions were sent to attack a synthetic oil refinery of I. G. Farbenindustrie in the Merseburg-Leuna area. The 388th Bomb Group furnished two Groups, the lead and low Groups in the 45th B Combat Wing. 18 aircraft plus 2 PFF a/c of the A Group and 20 aircraft of the B Group took-off between 0500 and 0527 hours. 3 aircraft in the A Group aborted 2 for mechanical reasons and one because he could not locate the formation. After forming, the Groups flew East diagonally across Europe on a briefed flak-free course to the IP, where the course was changed to a East-West for the bomb run. Two sharp right turns were made at the target and RP and the same route was followed on the return to base. Due to cloudy conditions at the target, PFF methods were used with bombs away at 0941 hours from 24,000 feet. The bombs in one aircraft of the B Group hung-up and had to be jettisoned South of the target at the RP. One ME 410 was observed in the target area but did not attack. Meager flak was encountered at Koblenz and Kassel with accurate heavy flak at the target. 25 aircraft suffered minor damage and 1 aircraft major damage. Sgt. E. R. Finn was wounded. All aircraft returned to base by 1358 hours. Battle damage to our aircraft. Number of flak holes per aircraft . (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger ). The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three groups of the 41st "C" Combat Bombardment Wing on today's mission. Last attacked on 12 May 1944, this synthetic oil and chemical plant had returned to 75% of capacity. The attack was carried out by PFF means. ___________________________________________________________________________
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1601.5 T
- Aircraft sent: 45
- Aircraft effective: 36
WIESBADEN (Opportunistic)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 43 T
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12170026
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39123538
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12159739
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747209
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damn Yankee
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Thomper
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Devil's Brat
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol' Faithful
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hard Seventeen, Hard Luck
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 447th Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger).
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'.