The Eighth Air Force Historical Society

Missions

MISSION DETAILS

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Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description

Mission 484: 1,172 bombers and 542 fighters are dispatched to hit oil and industrial targets in C Germany; 19 bombers and 8 fighters are lost:

1. Of 417 B-17s, 107 hit Dessau, 69 hit Kothen, 56 hit Leipzig/Mockau, 45 hit the Leipzig bearing industry, 36 hit Nordhuasen Airfield, 23 hit Kolleda Airfield, 20 hit targets of opportunity, 12 hit Bitterfeld, 12 hit Giessen Airfield, and 12 hit Rudolstadt; they claim 11-9-7 Luftwaffe aircraft; 15 B-17s are lost and 188 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 10 WIA and 129 MIA. Escort is provided by 253 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 4 P-51s are lost, 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair; 1 airman is WIA and 3 MIA.

2. Of 295 B-17s, 155 hit Merseburg, 53 hit Lutzkendorf, 47 hit Wetzlar and 7 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 153 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA and 21 MIA. Escort is provided by 178 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-4 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.

3. Of 460 B-24s, 123 hit Erfurt Nord and 11 hit Erfurt/Bindersleben Airfields; 80 hit Schmalkalden; 72 hit Gotha; 24 hit Freiburg, 18 hit Fulda, 12 hit Idstein, 10 hit Bad Salzungen, 10 hit Wernhausen and 9 hit Homburg marshaling yards; 21 hit Berka, 12 hit Bad Nauheim, 7 hit Koblenz, 6 hit Boppard and 6 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 31 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 45 of 47 P-47s; they claim 6-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47s is lost (pilot is MIA).

Mission 485: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

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

Mission Reports

303BG Mission Report - Target: Junkers Flugzeug Motorwerke, Dessau, Germany. Crews Dispatched: 37 (358BS - 10, 359th - 9, 360th - 12, 427th - 8). Crew Members Killed or Wounded: 2 crewmembers wounded. Length of Mission: 8 hours, 45 minutes. Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb G.P. & 38 x 100 lb M47 Incendiary bombs. Bombing Altitudes: 26,000, 25,000 & 24,000 ft. Ammo Fired: 0 rounds. The 303rd BG(H) dispatched 37 B-17s plus two PFF aircraft from the 305BG to bomb the aircraft assembly factory of Junkers Flugzeug Motorwerke A.Q. at Dessau, Germany. Lt. Col. Lewis E. Lyle led the 41st CBW-B consisting of the 303rd BG(H) flying the lead, low and high Group positions. Two aircraft returned early. Thirty-five 303rd BG(H) aircraft dropped 240 500-lb. G.P. M43 and 416 100-lb. incendiary bombs visually on the primary target. Bombs were dropped from 26,000, 25,000 and 24,000 feet with excellent results. There were 4/10 clouds in the target area with some middle clouds at 12,000 feet. Visibility was 20 to 30 miles and there was a slight haze.\ There were no fighter attacks on the Group. One crew reported seeing 25 to 30 enemy fighters, possibly ME-109s, just before the IP. They made a pass at the Group following the 303rd BG(H). Moderate to intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire appeared over the target. Flak was observed at several other places. Five aircraft sustained major and fifteen, minor damage. Chaff had only slight beneficial effect. Two men were wounded: 1Lt Langford, pilot, a flak wound in the left arm and S/Sgt. Gillespie, Engineer, a flak bruise on the right foot.\ More info on this mission at the 303BG website	source: 303rd Bomb Group web page http://www.303rdbg.com/
306BG Mission Report	source: 306th Bombardment Group website www.306bg.org/
34th BG Mission Report - Mission #39 Russelheim. Command Pilot: COOK. 12 planes were dispatched and 2 aborted. 10 planes dropped 24.8 tons on the primary target. 10 Credit Sorties. Oil and German industrial targets.	source: 34th Bomb Group Mission List compiled by Gary L. Ferrell http://valortovictory.tripod.com
384BG Mission Report - 384th BG Mission Number 162. Primary Target: Aircraft Plants - Dessau, Germany 41 aircraft assigned to this mission: Completed Mission - 34. Failed To Return - 1. Aborted - 1. Scrubbed - 1. Returned To Base - 1. Ground Spare, Unused - 3 42-37974 Grant, Walter Edward - Failed to Return - MIA; At 1115 hrs a/c dropped back and released bombs, apparently unable to keep up with formation; a/c was under attack by four ME109s and two FW190s; four chutes seen; a/c went down in a glide, apparently under control; e/a; cr Zetteritz, Ger; MACR 7278; Walter E. Grant 43-37717 Liebert, Jack L - Warren May (N) killed instantly by flak.	source: 384th Bomb Group web page http://384thBombGroup.com/
388BG Mission Report - For this day, the 1st Air Division went to Leipzig-Dessau Area. The 2nd Air Division went to Eisenach and Gotha while the 3rd Air Division was assigned Merseburg-Leuna Area. The 388th furnished 28 a/c. In the A Group, 20 a/c were airborne by 0709 hours and formed the high Group in the 45th Combat Wing. In the B Group, 8 a/c were airborne by 0630 hours flying high squadron with the 452nd B Group which flew low Group in the Wing. 2 a/c of each Group returned as spares with No aborts. Formations were effected and the Wing flew on a Southeast. erly course to near Koblenz, Germany, at which point it turned to the Northeast going to the Primary target. This was the oil refinery at Lutzkendorf. Because of haze and an effective smoke screen, the primary was not bombed. On the return course the secondary target at Wetzler was attacked. Bombs were away at 1204 hours from 23,000 feet. No enemy fighters were seen. Meager flak was encountered at Koblenz and moderate accurate flak at the primary target area. On the way out flak from heavy guns was met at Eisenach. 12 of our a/c suffered minor flak damage. Lt. J. R. Kern was wounded by flak. All of our a/c returned to base by 1431 hours.	source: 388th Bomb Group web page http://www.388bg.info
392nd Bomb Group Mission Report	source: 392nd Bomb Group web page http://www.b24.net/missions/
398th Bomb Group Mission report	source: 398th Bomb Group web page http://www.398th.org/
401BG / 613BS Mission Report - The 613th flew 8 ships. The Lead Box bombed the primary and the Low Box the secondary at Harborn, Germany. Moderate to intense flak was encountered in the Leipzig area, exceedingly accurate, principally continuously pointed type of fire. Lt. Kenneth M. Murgatroyd and crew, flying No.2 aircraft of the Lead Squadron, Low Box was lost as a result of flak just past Leipzig. When last observed No. 2 engine and fuselage were on fire. He stayed in formation for about ten minutes. Two chutes were observed to come out, then he peeled off to the left and two more chutes came out. It made a wide 360 degree pattern, losing altitude, the the tail fell off and the ship crashed.	source: 613th Bombardment Squadron History
401BG / 612BS Mission Report - The Group\'s 113th effort was an assignment to hit a ball-bearing factory at Leipzig, Germany. The 401st furnished the Lead and Low Boxes consisting of 12 aircraft each for the 94th \"A\" CBW. Several gremlins seemed to be around when the target area was reached. A visual run was attempted but cloud cover prevented the Leader\'s bombing. Meanwhile just ever the target the deputy lead aircraft was hit by flak and had to release its bombs and the remainder of the Lead Group dropped on his bombs. The Leader later bombed a Target of Opportunity at Harborn and the Low Box bombed the secondary target at Kolleda, Germany, obtaining fairly good results. Flak proved to be a menace in the target area. It was moderate to intense and exceedingly accurate accounting for damage to 20 aircraft and for the loss of one aircraft. The 612th lost Lt. Fredrick and his crew. Little is actually known about what happened to them although an appraisal of crew observations seems to indicate that the aircraft was hit by flak, dropped out of formation later and spun into the clouds below. No chutes were observed and lack of further observations left the decision of their chances of survival unknown. Also, flak accounted for a painful wound which was sustained by T/Sgt. H.E. Griffiths, 612th turret gunner, when a small piece of steel penetrated his face near the bridge of his nose, entering through his mouth.	source: 612th Bombardment Squadron History
401BG / 614BS Mission Report - Lt. Lincoln led the Low Box with fair bombing results on the secondary target at Kolleda, Germany. The Group put up 26 aircraft to furnish the Lead and Low Box of the 94th "A: CBW plus two spares. Some things went wrong near the target when a visual run was attempted but cloud cover prevented the Leader's bombing. Then, just over the target the Deputy Leader was hit by flak which caused him to release his bombs and the remainder of the Lead Group dropped on his bombs. Flak at the target was called a menace and it was intense and extremely accurate, causing damage to 20 aircraft. Crews: 42-39012 Lincoln, 42-97780 Rozzelle, 42-31863 Kovach, 42-102659 Lerwick, 42-97869 Harasym, 42-97395 Koons.	source: 614th Bombardment Squadron History www.401bg.org
401BG / 615BS Mission Report - 26 crews were briefed at 0345 hrs for an attack on oil and industrial targets in Germany, the primary target of the 401st being the ball bearing works of Deutsche K.F. at Leipzig. They produced specialized ball bearings used in the manufacturing of aircraft engines. The 2b aircraft were airborne by 0742 hrs, eventually joining a force of about 1,000 aircraft on their way to drop almost 3,000 tons of bombs on Germany. The 401st Group furnished the Lead and Low Boxes of the 94th liAr! CBW. Because of 4/10 to 8/10th's cloud cover, bombing was carried out by PFF. The Low Box dropped on the assigned secondary target, Kolleda airfield, visually. Strike photos disclosed that 95% of the bombs of the Low Box fell within 2,000 feet and 30% hit within 1,000 feet of the MPI. No enemy air opposition was encountered. Moderate to intense, accurate flak was encountered in the Leipzig area, causing major damage to 3 aircraft and minor damage to 17 aircraft. Ossiander, Melofchik, Duckworth, Ferdyn, Konze.	source: 615th Bombardment Squadron History www.401bg.org
44BG Mission Report - Erfurt/North Airfield, Germany, was hit with excellent results by the Group's 26 bombers. Actually 25 regulars and 2 PFFS took off but one 506 plane was forced to return early, and the two PFFs were lead and deputy lead for the 492nd. Lt. Gunton flew deputy lead of the second section. The formation encountered no flak or enemy aircraft and all returned safely to base. Bombing was visual. Lt. Stevens assigned and joined from the 66th. Capt. Mercer and 1st Lt. Rising, having completed operational tour, were assigned to the 12th RCD. 1st Lt. Abrams relieved and assigned to 491stBG.	source: 44th Bomb Group web page http://www.8thairforce.com/44thbg
446th Bomb Group Mission Report Eisenach 26 planes bombed with no results reported. 8 more planes bombed the marshalling yards at Fulda with good results.	source: 446th Bomb Group www.446bg.com
447BG Mission Report - Briefing was at 0430 hours. The target was the Leuna synthetic oil refinery at Merseburg. The aircraft were loaded with 380 tons of 500 lb. GP bombs. Take off started at 0650 hours. Lt. Farson took off in A/C #624 and had a malfunction. His crew moved to A/C #185, took off, and caught the formation completing the mission. When the group reached the Dutch coast they were at the bombing altitude of 25,000 feet. At the target flak was very heavy. During the bomb run, Lt. G.H. Millers ship was hit and went down. Bombing was visual and rated as "fair". Landing started at 1430 hours.	source: 447 Bomb Group Association http://www.447bg.com
457th Bomb Group Mission Link	source: 457 Bomb Group http://www.457thbombgroup.org
467th Bomb Group Mission report	source: 467th Bomb Group web page http://www.467bg.com/
486th Bomb Group Flimsy report	source: 486th Bomb Group web page http://www.486th.org/
492nd Bomb Group Mission Link	source: 492 Bomb Group Mission Links http://www.492ndbombgroup.com
91st BG / 323nd BS Mission Report - Leipzig, Germany, where their ME-109 Assembly Plant is located, was successfully bombed on the 20th. According to figures on the subject, this was the 200th Mission in which 323rd squadron has participated. Twelve ships from 323rd squadron participated. Enemy fighters made a furious attack on our formation. Approximately eight ships of the group were lost, but our squadron was lucky in not losing any. It was by far the roughest mission experienced by this group for several months. Enemy flak was also heavy and accurate. Shortly after the ships landed, there was a serious accident that marred our good luck for the day. M/Sgt. Lewis Katona was riding a bicycle and somehow rode into the path of a B-17 airplane as it was being taxied by M/Sgt. Olen K. Leathers. He was instantly killed. This was a shock to the entire squadron. M/Sgt. Katona was assistant line chief and had been with the squadron since it was at McDill Field, Florida. Many members of the 91st Bomb Group attended his funeral. He was buried in the cemetery near Cambridge. This was the first fatality by accident among the ground personnel of the squadron.	source: 323rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/
91st BG / 322nd BS Mission Report - The city of Leipzig was bombed by PFF methods due to poor visibility. At 1100 hours, just before the I.P. the low group was attacked by two waves of E/Z totaling approximately 55 to 60 A/C, Me109s and FW190s. The fighter cover had apparently been drawn to the front of the formation and the attack was continued by individual E/A for about 5-6 minutes. Lt. Walby, Lt. Deshaw and Lt. Strong, forming the #4 element of the low group, received the brunt of the first attack which came from 6 o'clock and slightly high. Lt. Walby's ship was observed to be hit in the right wing root which caught on fire. It was last seen on fire and breaking up with no chutes observed, Lt. Deshaw's A/C was last seen diving with left wing on fire and section of right wing broken off. No chutes seen. No positive information could be obtained as to the fate of Lt. Strong's ship though it was known to have been lost as the result of E/A fire during the same attack. A total of 8 A/C were lost by the 91st Bomb Gp. on this mission. Lt. Hamilton's A/C was hit by flak which knocked out his #2 engine forcing him to turn back at 1055 hours at 5005N 1130E. He returned with protection from one P-38.	source: 322rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/
91st BG / 324th BS Mission Report - Target: Leipzig A/C factory. Squadron Losses: One A/C ( 9 personnel ). This mission marked another mile stone in the history of the 91. We were the first Group in the E.T.O. to reach the 100 mark, but not the first at the 200. We were held back by the transfer of the 324th Sq. to P.F.F. and on days when other groups flew 2 missions we were able to fly but one, not having enough regular combat A/C to put up the second group for the day. Photographs show concentration of bombs falling in NE section of Leipzig. From the I.P. to within 6 miles of the target there was about 7/10 cloud cover. In the target area there appeared to be only about 2/10 to 3/10, but it caused confusion as to type of bombing which would be done, i.e. visual or P.F.F. The high tried to locate A/D North of Leipzig without success and pulled over city to drop in northern part. The lead and low groups had already bombed Leipzig slightly more to the South. At 1100 hours just before I.P., after calls of bandits from Wings ahead, 55 to 60 S/E E/A hit our low Gp. in two waves of equal strength from 6 o'clock level to slightly high. The attacks came from cloud and E/A were stacked up to 4 high. Massed attack lasted about 5 & 1/2 minutes. Individual attacks continued thereafter on stragglers. E/A were ME 109's and FW 190's about equal in number. Some ME 109's had one orange stripe vertically around fuselage half way to tail. Low group was out of position and in loose formation at time of attack and fighter support had evidently been drawn to front of the Division. They came in later to take care of E/A, which used the old rolling tactics as they attacked. A/A fire was moderate and accurate.	source: 91st BG / 324th BS Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/

Non-Combat Accident Reports

Aircraft: B-17G (#42-39871). Organization: 8WRS / 801RG of Watton, Norfolk. Pilot: Funk, Mahlon G. Notes: landing accident. Location: North Pickenham, Norfolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: B-17G (#43-37840). Organization: 836BS / 487BG of Lavenham, Suffolk. Pilot: Stilts, Paul M. Notes: killed in mid air collision. Location: Lavenham, Suffolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: B-24H (#42-51197). Organization: 839BS / 487BG of Lavenham, Suffolk. Pilot: Oxbolt, David L. Notes: killed in mid air collision. Location: Canendish England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/
Aircraft: F-5E (#43-29018). Organization: 22PRS / 7PRG of Mount Farm, Oxfordshire. Pilot: Mitchell, Robert L. Notes: killed in a crash. Location: The Coppice, Clifton Hamp England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: L-4B (#43-714). Organization: / 95BG of Horham, Suffolk. Pilot: Engle, Donald F. Notes: forced landing. Location: Elm Tree Farm,nr Welby P England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: P-38J (#42-104147). Organization: 435FS / 479FG of Wattisham, Suffolk. Pilot: Wendt, Eugene H. Notes: taxiing accident. Location: Wattisham, Suffolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/
Aircraft: P-51B (#43-6955). Organization: 555FTS / 496FTG of Goxhill, Lincolnshire. Pilot: Bearden, Lawrence A. Notes: crashed belly landing. Location: Hemingby/ 1mi SE England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: P-51C7 (#42-103348). Organization: 364FS / 357FG of Leiston, Suffolk. Pilot: Sandborn, Dwaine A. Notes: crashed belly landing. Location: Leiston, Suffolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: P-51D5 (#44-13740). Organization: 338FS / 55FG of Wormingford, Essex. Pilot: McGinn, John L. Notes: ground looped. Location: Wormingford, Essex England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/
Aircraft: UC-61A (#43-14607). Organization: 394SrS / 85SrG of Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. Pilot: Walters, Clifford D. Notes: ground looped. Location: Hendon, Middlesex England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/	Aircraft: UC-64A (#43-5398). Organization: 325FRS / 27ATG of Abbots Ripton, Huntingdonshire. Pilot: Jackson, David A. Notes: taxiing accident. Location: Podington, Bedforshire England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/

Mission

MISSION DETAILS

Mission "8th AF Fighter Command" Escort for 8th AF 484 July 20, 1944

Mission "8th AF Fighter Command"
Escort for 8th AF 484
July 20, 1944