VIII Bomber Command 124

7 November 1943

Description

This mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a force of 59 B-17s of 1st Bomb Division including 91BG (18) 351BG (20); and 381BG (21) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Wesel, Germany. Failure of the Oboe equipment results in a wide scattering of bombs. 53 aircraft are effective on and around the target. There are no aircraft losses or claims, but 1 airmen is KIA and 2 others ar Wounded in Action (WIA).



The second element is a combined force of 60 B-17s of 3rd Bomb Division including: 390BG (20); 100BG (23); and 95BG (17) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Duren, Germany. 37 aircraft are effective on Duren, but failure of the Oboe PFF equipment and poor weather cause 20 aircraft the bomb the secondary target at Randerath, Germany. There are no losses or claims but 2 aircraft are damaged.



NOTE: 3 B-17s from 482BG equipped with PFF Oboe equipment are dispersed among the formations of 1BD and 3BD. 1 aborts the mission.

Mission Details

DUREN (Primary)

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 2 of 3 PPF from 482nd Bomb Group equipped B-17s escort but equipment failure results in wide scattering of bombs.

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 84.10
  • Aircraft sent: 43
  • Aircraft effective: 41
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 48.00
  • Aircraft sent: 17
  • Aircraft effective: 16
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

WESEL (Primary)

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Poor weather restricts operations.

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 125.35
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 59
  • Aircraft effective: 53
  • Aircraft damaged: 4

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: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735735
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Captain David A Bramble of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group admires the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-29739)  nicknamed "The Village Flirt". Via TA Harkin, via C Norman.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33327732
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19122414
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-737361
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Patches
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30182) nicknamed "Blondie II" of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blondie II
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heavenly Daze | Dolly
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spook V
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Flak
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

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'.