VIII Bomber Command 161
22 December 1943
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 3668 - Technical Sergeant Edward Fee of the 91st Bomb Group enjoys a cup of coffee surrounded by his comrades at Bassingbourn after his final mission....
Description
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF equipped from 482BG)from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (28); 92BG (22); 303BG (20 - did not drop); 305BG (19); 306BG (21); 351BG (31 - did not drop); 379BG (21); 381BG (22); 384BG (20); and 401BG (21 - did not drop). 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 22KIA 27POW. Of 2 aircraft returing with battle battle damage, 1 crash lands at Ubbeston, UK 10RTD and the other is abandoned near Washingly, UK 10RTD, both aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). 5 airmen are KIA and 8 are Wounded in Action (WIA) in returning aircraft. 21 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claim 12-2-3 of attacking German aircraft.
The second element of the force directed to Osnabruck is a force of 121 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 93BG (18); 389BG (26); 445BG (26); 446BG (25); and 448BG (26). 87 aircraft are effective on the target. 12 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 82KIA 35POW 1DIC.
1 aircraft with battle damage crash landed at Manston, UK. 1KIA 9RTD. 5 airmen in returing aircraft were Wounded in Action (WIA). 11 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this element claimed 6-6-3 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The force attacking at Munster, Germany is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 180 B-17s (including 3 PFF-equipped from 482BG) from 3rd Bomb Division that included: 94BG (20); 95BG (30); 96BG (27); 100BG (30); 385BG (20); 388BG (31); and 390BG (19). 164 aircraft are effective on the target. 3 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 22KIA 8POW. 2 aircraft with battle damage crashlanded back in England, aircraft DBR, 10RTD. 1 airman in a returning aircraft was Wounded in Action (WIA). 29 aircraft are damaged. There are no claims on enemy aircraft.
The second element attaking at Munster is composed of 43 B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division that included: 44BG (23) and 392BG (20). 30 aircraft are effective on the target. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 15KIA 5POW-1DIC. There are no claims by this element on attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
Münster, Germany
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 5 B-17s from 390th Bomb Group join with the first wave to drop 80 X 250IB on Osnabruck. 4 Pathfinder (PFF)-equipped B-17s from 482 accompany this wave, 3 are effective on the target.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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: 299.59
- People killed in action: 23
- People wounded in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 7
- People returned to duty: 20
- Aircraft sent: 181
- Aircraft effective: 167
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 29
Münster, Germany
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 54.81
- People killed in action: 15
- Prisoners of war: 4
- People died in captivity: 1
- Aircraft sent: 43
- Aircraft effective: 30
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
OSNABRUCK (Primary)
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Heavy cloud cover disrupts the formations. 303rd Bomb Group fails to bomb because of another formation passing underneath. 351st Bomb Group fails to bomb because of a malfunction in the lead aircraft. 401st Bomb Group fails to bomb because of a Pathfinder (PFF) breakdown. 482nd Bomb Group despatches 4 Pathfinder (PFF) aircraft to accompany this element and second wave but only two are effective on the target. A 401st Bomb Group aircraft suffered a bomb strike and was abandoned over England crashing near Washingley.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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: 333.82
- People killed in action: 28
- People wounded in action: 8
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 27
- People returned to duty: 20
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 12
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
- Aircraft sent: 159
- Aircraft effective: 149
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 21
OSNABRUCK (Primary)
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 448th Bomb Group flies its first mission. 20 B-17s and B-24s drop 265 X 500GP on Targets of Opportunity. 488th Bomb Group loses one aircraft due to a bomb strike.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 197.58
- People killed in action: 86
- People wounded in action: 5
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 35
- People returned to duty: 9
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
- Aircraft sent: 121
- Aircraft effective: 87
- Aircraft missing in action: 12
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 11
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 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-737361
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11072609
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-795709
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734654
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14061673 / O-732613
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mr Five by Five
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wolf Pack
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
![Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407619.jpg.webp?itok=aEyghgX9)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iza Vailable
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Queen Jeanie : Damn Yankee II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Short Stride : Loma Lee : TS
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 2BD (Osnabruck) statisitics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to 1BD (Osnabruck) statisitics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A> Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.
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'.