8th Air Force 240

29 February 1944

Description

A combined force of 226 B-17s from 3rd Air Division: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG are despatched to bomb the German aircraft factoried at Brunswick, Germany. 218 are effective on the target. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 6POW. 54 aircraft are damaged. 4 airmen in returning aircraft are WIA. There are no other losses, claims or casualties.

Mission Details

Brunswick, Germany

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORIES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The aircraft factories at Brunswick, Germany are the focus of the 3rd Bomb Division formation.

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

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

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

447th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.

452nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 450.86
  • People killed in action: 4
  • People wounded in action: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 6
  • Aircraft sent: 223
  • Aircraft effective: 215
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 54

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Russell Phillip Allman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-685753
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Robert Eugene Bellora

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13057861
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner

Frank Martin Bessemer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18193418
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Kenneth Hanley Betts

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807969
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Harold Adrian Brassfield

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15382852
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

42-29943

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Situation Normal
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron

42-30233

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Flak
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30235) nicknamed "The Zoot Suiters" of the 95th Bomb Group.

42-30235

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lonesome Polecat : The Zoot Suiters
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron

42-30342

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: T'aint A Bird II
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 1 334th Bomb Squadron
Ten Knights in a Bar Room

42-30353

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ten Knights in a Bar Room
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

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'.