VIII Bomber Command 38
27 February 1943
Original caption : “Crew of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “SKY WOLF“ pose beside the plane. 303rd Bomb Group. England. 27 February 1943.“
[ From left to right : Captain Samuel H. Anderson; Captain Carl H. Morales; Major Clemens K. Wurzbach; Captain Hubert E. Miller; 1st Lt Frank E. Zasadil. "Sky Wolf" is B-17 # 41-24562. ]
Added photo
Object Number - UPL 20589 - Official USAAF photo – B-61690 AC Original caption : “Crew of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “SKY WOLF“ pose beside the plane. 303rd Bomb...
Description
With weather and cloud cover continuing to frustrate bombing efforts against targets in Northern Germany, VIII Bomber Command decides to mount a raid against the harbour facilities at Brest, France. A total of 60 B-17s are destached: 91BG (18); 303BG (16); 305BG (12) and 306BG (17). Of this formation only 46 are effective on the target because 305BG receives a bogus recall message and all 12 of its aircraft turn back even though the target was in sight. Flak is light and there is no fighter opposition. There are no aircraft losses in this formation.
A total of 15 B-24s also participate in this mission: 44BG (10) and 93BG (5). 14 of this formation are effective on the the target and there are no aircraft losses in this formation.
Mission Details
Brest, France
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: No fighter escort on this mission. 305th Bomb Group turned back in sight of the target when a bogus recall message was received.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 113.00
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 63
- Aircraft effective: 46
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
Brest, France
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 42
- Aircraft sent: 15
- Aircraft effective: 14
- Aircraft damaged: 2
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: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-726994
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37101208
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728345
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34211267
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Check
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Devil Himself
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
![Captain Albert W. Dieffenback, a bombardier of the 303rd Bomb Group, admires Bugs Bunny painted onto the nose of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 9 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '14. Captain Albert W. Dieffenbach, of Garrett Park, Md., and the bomber in which he flies as group bombardier.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407609.jpg.webp?itok=_FHnam-K)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: S For Sugar
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description based on " The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description based on " The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.
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'.