803
21 January 1945Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
ASCHAFFENBURG
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 177 : ASCHAFFENBURG, GERMANY : 21 JANUARY, 1945 The marshalling yards at Aschaffenburg were the assigned target, located near Frankfurt. The rail center connected the Ruhr Valley with the Italian and Romanian fronts. The Group comprised the 94th B Combat Wing with Major Smith as Air Commander. Combat Wing assembly was accomplished without difficulty. However, the Group encountered bad weather conditions and swung to the right of course. At this juncture, the formation became separated from the Division column. The Group was a considerable distance behind the preceding group and it was necessary to deviate to the right of the Division assembly line in order to intercept the Wing and the Division column over the Continent. Finally, the Group rejoined the Division behind the 94th A Group. Before reaching the lP it was necessary to go above briefed altitude because of clouds and weather conditions. The IP was crossed on course and above briefed altitude. Bombing was done in Group formation by means of PFF equipment, because of ten tenths cloud coverage. Dense, persistent contrails hampered the run. Bombs were dropped from 25,200 feet. Bombing results were obscured due to ten tenths cloud coverage. One plane sustained flak damage.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
ASCHAFFENBURG
Description: OIL REFINERY
HEILBRONN
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: A mix of 120 P-47s and P-51s provide escort. Mix not given in available data.
MANNHEIM
Description: BRIDGES HIGHWAY and RAIL
MANNHEIM
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
MANNHEIM
Description: VEHICLE PLANT
MANNHEIM/LANZ
Description: VEHICLE PLANT
MANNHIEM
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
PFORZHEIM
PFORZHEIM
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
REUTLINGEN
Description: COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
SPEYER
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37705979
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12077778
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator-Mechanic-Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
![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.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379271.jpg.webp?itok=QwML6lTh)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El's Belles
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Kenny
- Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Midge
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: D-Day Dottie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Cover Girl
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
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'.