875

9 March 1945
B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group drop bombs over their target. Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photograph.' [stamp], 'Sacred.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 446 BG led by "Ronnie" unloading demolition + incendiaries on Rheine Marshalling Yards, 9 March 1945.' media-380571.jpg FRE 1750 B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group drop bombs over their target. Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photograph.' [stamp], 'Sacred.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 446 BG led by "Ronnie" unloading demolition + incendiaries on Rheine Marshalling Yards, 9 March 1945.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1750 - B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group drop bombs over their target. Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photograph.' [stamp], 'Sacred.' [stamp]...

Description

Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description



Mission 875: 1,045 bombers and 443 fighters are dispatched to hit marshaling yards and industrial plants in Germany; they claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 7 bombers are lost:

1. 423 B-17s are sent to hit the Ost (150) and Main (222) marshaling yards and a casting plant (38) at Frankfurt visually and using Micro H, H2X radar and smoke markers; 6 B-17s also fly a screening mission; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 182 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 28 MIA. Escorting are 94 of 101 P-51s; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft in the air.



2. 318 of 336 B-17s attack the marshaling yard and a large tank factory at Kassel visually; 6 other B-17s fly a screening mission; 3 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 188 damaged; 4 airmen are WIA and 28 MIA. The escort is 97 of 99 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond repair.



3. 282 B-24s are sent to bomb marshaling yards at Munster (97), Rheine (93) and Osnabruck (87) using Gee-H and H2X; 1 B-24 is lost and 52 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 12 MIA. 47 of 51 P-51s escort.



4. 4 B-17s fly a scouting mission.



5. 141 P-47s and P-51s fly a freelance sweep in support of the bombers; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.



6. 27 P-51s fly a scouting mission.



7. 15 P-51s escort 12 F-5s and 3 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft in the air.



Source: THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History,

Mission Details

FRANKFURT

Description: SCREENING MISSION

FRANKFURT

Description: STEEL WORKS CASTING PLANT

FRANKFURT/MAIN

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

FRANKFURT/OST

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

KASSEL

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG MISSION NO. 205 : KASSEL, GERMANY : 9 MARCH, 1945 The marshalling yards at Kassel and in its vicinity were the primary targets for the entire 1st Division. Traffic had continued to pour through these marshalling yards on the way to the Western Front. The Kassel marshalling yards complex comprised an estimated area of two miles square. The Group led the First Division and its target was the center of the yards. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Colonel Rogner as Air Commander. In addition, the Group put up a screening force of five planes. Group formation and Wing assembly were accomplished without difficulty. The Group was in proper position as the lead of the Division column. Division assembly line was flown slightly left of course. Route over the Continent was uneventful and was flown as briefed. The Air Commander was notified by the weather scouting force that the target area was open. Interval was taken by the Group with squadrons in trail. The IP was crossed on course by all three squadrons. The lead squadron was 400 feet below briefed altitude so in the event the squadron had to bomb by G-H equipment, an absolute altitude of 24,000 feet would be attained. Bomb results were observed to be very good. Flak was moderate and accurate with eleven bombers receiving battle damage.

Danish civillians inspect the wreckage of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107082) of the 379th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'St Heddinge 13th May 1944 at 18:30 Hrs. 8th AAF, 1st Air Division, 41st Combat Wing, 379th Bombardment Group, Squadron?.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

KASSEL

Description: SCREENING MISSION

MUNSTER

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

OSNABRUCK

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

RHEINE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

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: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34725400
  • Role/Job: Toglier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11085503
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail 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: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-20558065
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
The insignia of the 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-779085
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Passenger

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.'
  • 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: Damn Yankee
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Midge
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Worry Bird : Voan : Snuffy
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 288-289

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 288-289

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: History of the 447th Bomb Group by Doyle Shields; pp. 288-289

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

Personal files of John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner.

Date
Contributorjhuck
Changes
Sources

Entered by John G. Huck, nephew of Edward Blattner

Source: The Eighth Air Force Historical Society - http://www.8thafhs.org/new/incl_missions.php

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Media based on images associated with mission 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'.

875: Gallery (6 items)