VIII Bomber Command 130
13 November 1943Best Web - B-24 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Description
The port area of Bremen, Germany is the focus of this mission composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 154 B0-17 of 1st Bomb Division including 94BG (16); 385BG (17); 95BG (21); 100BG (18); 390BG (21); 96BG (40); and 388BG (21). 60 aircraft of this element were effective on the port area; 1 aircraft from 91BG, 9 from 385BG and 7 from 390BG drop on targets of opportunity. 3 aircraft from this element Failed to Return (FTR) 13KIA, 9POW, 8RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft crashed on take off and was destroyed but all 10 crew RTD. 9 aircraft returned damaged wit 2 airmen Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claim 9-6-11 of attacking German aircraft.
The second element was scheduled to be a large formation from 1st Bomb Division but weather hampered assembly. The final dispatch was one formation of 5 aircraft: 305BG (2); 306BG (2) and 381BG (1). 2 of these aircraft were effective on the port area at Bremen, Germany. 1 aircraft returned too damaged to repair (DBR) 10RTD and 2 others were damaged. 8 airmen were KIA in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners of this element claimed 0-1-0 of attacking German aircraft.
NOTE: 4-B-17s from 482BG equipped with PFF equipment were dispersed among the formations, 1 aborted.
The third element was composed of 109 B-24s of 2nd Bomb Division including: 93BG (25); 389BG (27); 44BG (33) and 392BG (24). 53 were effective at Bremen and 7 from 93BG attack Helgoland Island as a target of opportunity. 13 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 93KIA 36POW 3EVD. 3 aircraft crashed on landing and were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) 2KIA 18RTD. 4 aircraft returned damaged with 22 Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners in this element claimed 11-7-2 of attacking enemy aircraft.
Mission Details
Bremen, Germany
Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 31.80
- People killed in action: 8
- Prisoners of war: 2
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 5
- Aircraft effective: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 2
Bremen, Germany
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Includes 3 of 4 482nd Bomb Group B-17s equipped with Pathfinder (PFF). More than 100 aircraft abort due to weather. 95th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group and 39Bomb Group attacked Targets of Opportunity.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 297.50
- People killed in action: 32
- People wounded in action: 4
- Prisoners of war: 17
- People returned to duty: 11
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 19
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 11
- Aircraft sent: 163
- Aircraft effective: 64
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 12
Bremen, Germany
Description: SHIP YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 8 aircraft from 93rd Bomb Group made a visual attack on Heligoland as a Target of Opportunity. B-24s dropped 520,00 0 leaflets on Bremen. The B-24s flew 12 aircraft section formations for the first time.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: Not determined
- People killed in action: 97
- People wounded in action: 22
- People evaded: 3
- Prisoners of war: 36
- People returned to duty: 28
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 11
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 7
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 109
- Aircraft effective: 61
- Aircraft missing in action: 13
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 10
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: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-52478
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36408642
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner / Togglier / Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-190737
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36268988
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-120980 / O-2044866
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wabbit Twacks : Homesick Sal
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Charlene
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 562nd Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lil One
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lonesome Polecat : The Zoot Suiters
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to statisitics of 2nd Bomb Division element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to statistics of 3rd Bomb Division per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 10-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
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'.