770

30 December 1944
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission. media-380076.jpg FRE 1279 A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission.

Official Caption: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "This is It!", in foreground and other Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group, encounter flak opposition as they approach the target at Mainz, Germany, 30 December 1944. Roger Freeman Collection

Official caption from Fold 3

Object Number - FRE 1279 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission....

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

ALTENAHR

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

AUSKIRCHEN

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

BISCHOFFSHEIM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

BULLAY

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

IRLICH

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

KAISERSLAUTERN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KAISERSLAUTERN

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

KASSEL

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

KASSEL

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MAINZ

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MANNHEIM

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

MECHERNICH

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

REMAGEN BRIDGE

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

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: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-716310
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (4Z-V+) nicknamed "Wolves Inc." of the 791st Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '467th B.G., 4Z-V+.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dynamite John
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
  • Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: El's Belles
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Official Website of 385th Bomb Group Association

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest daughter of Lester Allen Wise, who flew on this mission as pilot with Jack Q. Means as co-pilot

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest child of Lester Allen Wise, pilot of B-17 (44-6569) 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group, flew from Great Ashfield, England to Mannheim, 30 Dec 1944.

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest daughter of Lester Allen Wise

Date
ContributorVirginiawise50
Changes
Sources

Virginia Wise, eldest daughter of Lester Allen Wise, who flew as a B-17 pilot on this mission to Mannheim with the 8th Air Force, 385th Bomb Group from Great Ashfield, England

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'.

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