8th Air Force 911
24 March 1945
Object Number - UPL 35185
Description
"8th AF Aided Paratroops
Having culminated its role in the Rhine crossing Saturday with blazing bomber and fighter sweeps up and down enemy territory, activities of the 8th Air Force fell off sharply yesterday as approximately 250 Liberators and some 250 Mustangs and Thunderbolts attacks three underground oil storage units near Brunswick and Hamburg.
"But on Saturday, the 8th put together a mighty procession of bomers and fighters which flew 3,000 sorties in cooperation with the troops streaming across the river. The bombers, which had been devastating enemy airfields east of the Rhine for three days, plastered 16 more and dropped weapons and supplies in a daring low-level operation to paratroops immediately after they had landed.
From dawn to dusk Thunderbolts and Mustang patroled the battle area, riddling troop concentrations, supply columns, rail yards and airfields. Only 66 Nazi fighters were met, an indication of the results of the bombers' relentless attacks on Luftwaffe fields, and 53 of these were shot down. The 8th lost 22 bombers and four fighters during the day.
Liberators which dropped supplies to airborne troops bore thhe brunt of
(Continued on back page)
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
ACHMER
Description: AIRFIELD
FURSTENAU/VECHTEL
Description: AIRFIELD
HESEPE
Description: AIRFIELD
HOPSTEN
Description: AIRFIELD
KIRTORF
Description: AIRFIELD
NORDHORN
Description: AIRFIELD
PLANTLUNNE
Description: AIRFIELD
RHEINE
Description: AIRFIELD
SIEGEN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
STEENWIJK
Description: AIRFIELD
STORMEDE
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: These missions are escorted by a mix of 95 P-47s and P-51s. Mix not given in available data.
TWENTE/ANSCHEDE
Description: AIRFIELD
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 38
- Aircraft effective: 37
VAREL
Description: AIRFIELD
VARRELBUSCH
Description: AIRFIELD
VECHTAL
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: A mix 1,158 P-47s and P-51s fly area support for the bomber raids. Mix not given in available data. In AIRBORNE OPERATIONS the IX Troop Carrier Command dispatches 2000+ transports and gliders to drop and land the British 6 Airborne and the US 17th Airborne Divisions (plus artillery, vehicles, ammunition and other supplies) East of the Rhine River North and West of Wesel as the British 2nd Army and the US Ninth Armies cross the Rhine River to the NW and SE.
WESEL
Description: SUPPLY DROP (BRITISH)
Notes: Supplies are dropped to British forces and US forces. Supplies are dropped from low altitude (300-400 feet). Losses are mostly due to small arms fire.
WESEL
Description: SUPPLY DROP (US)
WITTMUNDHAFEN
Description: AIRFIELD
ZWISCHENAHN
Description: AIRFIELD
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: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14116557
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-20558065
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-779085
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot, Passenger
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34316177
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damn Yankee
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Midge
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pretty Baby
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cover Girl
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Homesick Angel
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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'.