VIII Bomber Command 80

30 July 1943
A Dutch soldier surveys the wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 381st Bomb Group that has crashed near Apeldoorn. First Handwritten caption on reverse: '381BG, 30/7/43 by Fighters.' Second Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-3100, 381 BG, 532 BS. 3 KM SE of Apeldoorn, 30-7-43 10:45 Hrs. RNAF' media-380066.jpg FRE 1269 A Dutch soldier surveys the wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 381st Bomb Group that has crashed near Apeldoorn. First Handwritten caption on reverse: '381BG, 30/7/43 by Fighters.' Second Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-3100, 381 BG, 532 BS. 3 KM SE of Apeldoorn, 30-7-43 10:45 Hrs. RNAF' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1269 - A Dutch soldier surveys the wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 381st Bomb Group that has crashed near Apeldoorn. First Handwritten caption on...

Description

The aircraft factories at Kassel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is flown by two elements of B-17s which attack 15 minutes apart. The firts element is a combined force of 119 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 303BG (23); 351BG (21); 379BG (24); 381BG (18); and 384BG (13) despatched to bomb the Bettinhuasen/Fieseler aircraft factory at Kassel, Germany. 94 of these aircraft are effective on the target. 6 B-17s Fail to Return (FTR)-21KIA 29POW 10RTD (Rescued by ASR) another 6 returned to England but were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR)-11KIA 49RTD 10WIA. This element was escorted by P-47s. Fighter resistance is fierce, the bomber gunners of this element claim 40-7-29 on attacking enemy aircraft. 

The second element is a combined force of 67 B-17s from: 94BG (15); 95BG (6); 96BG (10); 100BG (17); 385BG (7); and 388BG (12) are despatched to bomb the Waldau/Fiesler aricraft factory at Kassel, Germany. 37 aircraft are effective on the target. 6 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR)-10KIA 34POW 1DIC 1EVD 9RTD (Rescued by ASR). This element is also escorted by P-47s. The fighter resistance is not as great against this element as they are attacking 15 miuntes behind the first element. The Bomber Gunners claim 8-6-3 of the attacking fighters.

Mission Details

Description: BETTERNHAUSEN FIESELER AIRCRAFT WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 107 P-47s with belly tanks escort this mission.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th 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
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 217.25
  • People killed in action: 42
  • People wounded in action: 10
  • Prisoners of war: 29
  • People returned to duty: 59
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 40
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 7
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 29
  • Aircraft sent: 119
  • Aircraft effective: 94
  • Aircraft missing in action: 6
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 6
  • Aircraft damaged: 64

Description: WALDAU FIESELER AIRCRAFT WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 1 B-17 from 94th Bomb Group and two B-17s from 100th Bomb Group drop 16 X 250 IB and 20 X 500GP on Targets of Opportunity 37 aircraft hit the primary.

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 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 83.25
  • People killed in action: 10
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 34
  • People returned to duty: 15
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 8
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 67
  • Aircraft effective: 40
  • Aircraft missing in action: 6
  • Aircraft damaged: 18

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: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14062755 | O-668177
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38107155
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36324682
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear, six men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are on the ground in front of kneeling men.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-522720
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Co-Pilot / Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34242184
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Man O War
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
Crew of the Piccadilly Commando
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Piccadilly Commando
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Augerhead
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pie-Eyed Piper
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fifi | Old Battle Axe
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorMags
Changes
Sources

303rd BG Web Page

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to the Waldau element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims against enemy aircraft to the Bettenhausen element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary.

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'.

VIII Bomber Command 80: Gallery (3 items)