Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
| Mission 859: 1,232 bombers and 774 fighters are dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants and a tank factory in Germany; most attacks are made using H2X radar; they claim 110.5-9-60 Luftwaffe aircraft; 14 bombers and 13 P-51s are lost:
1. 450 B-17s are sent to hit an oil plant at Bohlen (60), oil refinery at Rositz (36) and gun batteries at Bohlen (36); 255 hit the secondary target, Chemnitz; targets of opportunity are Penig (12), Saalfeld (13), Jocketa (12), Cologne (1) and other (12); some attacks are made visually; they claim 2-0-1 aircraft; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 52 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 4 WIA and 29 MIA. Escorting are 254 of 272 P-51s; they claim 7.5-1-4 aircraft in the air and 0-0-6 on the ground without loss.
2. 321 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Rothensee oil plant (38) and Buckau tank factory (257) at Magdeburg; 4 others hit a target of opportunity; some attacks are made visually; 3 B-24s are lost and 61 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 28 MIA. The escort is 187 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-2-0 aircraft in the air; 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.
3. 455 B-17s are sent to hit the oil plant at Ruhland (24); 406 hit the secondary, Dresden; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; they claim 6-3-10 aircraft; 8 B-17s are lost and 53 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 72 MIA. 225 of 249 P-51s escort; they claim 54-3-16 aircraft in the air and 36-0-23 on the ground; 13 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
4. 6 B-24s fly a screening mission.
5. 25 of 28 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.
6. 22 of 23 P-51s escort 14 F-5s and 4 Spitfires on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany without loss.
Mission 860: 11 of 12 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany without loss and 4 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.
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| 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: Marshalling Yard at Chemnitz, Germany. Crews Dispatched: 39 (358BS - 10, 359th - 10, 360th - 10, 427th - 9). Length of Mission: 9 hours, 30 minutes. Bomb Load: 16 x 250 lb H.E. M57 bombs. Bombing Altitudes: 26,500, 25,000, & 27,000 ft. Ammo Fired: 600 rounds. Continuing semi-tactical bombing, Group Forts were dispatched to attack the Rositz, Germany synthetic oil plant (visual). The secondary target was the Chemnitz marshalling yard (PFF or visual) and the last resort was a small arms factory at Suhl, Germany. No aircraft returned early. Watching the Fortresses take off. Sketch by Bob Hand in 1945. Again, enemy fighters and flak provided no opposition and the 254 P-51s provided fair support. A 532BS/381BG joined the 303rd BG(H) formation immediately after the target, but fell behind and became lost in the clouds just before reaching the battle lines. Five Group aircraft landed away from Base. There were no casualties or battle damage. In the target area there were 7/10 to 8/10 low clouds with tops at 9,000 feet and no contrails. All three Squadrons attacked the secondary target from 26,500, 25,000 and 27,000 feet and dropped 648 250-lb. H.E. M57 bombs and 10 leaflet units. The high Squadron bombed visually and the bombardier believed that the lead Squadron hit in the southeast part of the city by PFF. Although results were difficult to determine due to cloud conditions, some hits in the city and a few fires were observed. More info on this mission at the 303BG website | source: 303rd Bomb Group web page http://www.303rdbg.com/ | | 34th BG Mission Report - Mission #134 Dresden. Command Pilot: YOUNG. 38 planes dispatched. 38 planes dropped 92.25 tons on the secondary target. 38 Credit Sorties. This was the first mission opposed by enemy fighters, but no losses occurred as a result. 34BG gunners did claim 3 enemy fighters destroyed, 2 probables and 8 damaged. Sturdivan in The Red-Tailed Devils from Mendlesham, p.75, states the claims as 8 destroyed, 7 probables and 5 damaged. Photos of the planes show that "Butch," "OldBuddy " and "Sweet Seventeen" each made one enemy fighter claim.
| source: 34th Bomb Group Mission List compiled by Gary L. Ferrell http://valortovictory.tripod.com | | 351BG Mission Report - 37 aircraft were sent on this mission. | source: 351st Bomb Group web page http://www.351st.org/ken.harbour | | 384BG Mission Report - 384th BG Mission Number 279. Primary Target: Oil Refinery - Rositz, Germany 44 aircraft assigned to this mission: Completed Mission - 38. Aborted - 1. Scrubbed - 1. Ground Spare, Unused - 4
42-32106 Jerome, Edwin A - Landed away Whit Waltham due to fuel shortage
42-37822 Van Pelt, Charles A - Landed away Bunfold due to fuel shortage
42-102661 Kowats, Daniel F - Landed away on Continent A-79 on return
43-38673 Burroughs, Edwin C - Landed away Red Hill due to fuel shortage
43-38678 Miley, Harold L - Aborted due to mechanical failure; jettisoned bombs in Channel
44-6892 Milligan, George R - Landed away Priston due to fuel shortage
44-8679 Haaf, Arthur H - Struck by flak; had #4 prop feathered but was under control; presumed to have landed on Continent; | source: 384th Bomb Group web page http://384thBombGroup.com/ | | 388BG Mission Report - All 8th Air Force heavy bombers were dispatched to attack oil and transportation targets in Eastern Germany. The 388th furnished three Groups which made up the 45th A Combat Wing. 38 a/c including 4 PFF a/c were airborne between 0640 and 0717 hours. One a/c from the high and low squadrons aborted. Formations were effected and the briefed route to the target was followed. The primary target was covered by clouds, (this was to be attacked if visual) so the marshalling yards at Dresden was attacked using PFF methods. Bombs were away at 1041 hours from 23,600 feet. Meager accurate flak was encountered from the northern defenses of Hannover. Several rockets were seen in the target area. No enemy a/c were seen. All a/c returned to base by 1600 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 / 614BS Mission Report - The tenth consecutive mission was deep into Germany with the oil industry at Leipzig as the primary target. The Scouting Force, "Buckeye", advised the bombing of the secondary target at Chemnitz because of the cloud cover over the primary and the marshalling sidings were bombed by PFF with no observations of the results. Although the 401st formation bombed without interference from flak or fighters the Luftwaffe did attempt to stop the 1st and 3rd Air Divisions. The escort fighters of the 8th Air Force shot down 66 enemy fighters and destroyed 36 on the ground for the loss of 13 of their own numbers. This must have been a long day for the crews, both air and ground, with the briefing taking place at 0300 hrs. and the ETR at 1623 hrs. plus the time for debriefing, it must have made it about 16 hours at least of concentrated effort. To have done this for so many consecutive days seems incredible. The loading list for the Squadron was: 44-8707 Utter, 44-6464 James, 43-38646 Thompson, 42-97780 Viehman, 43-37551 Stauffer, 43-38738 Richardson, 42-97322 Jordan, 43-97931 Ayre, 43-38565 Holmes, 42-107151 Fondren, 43-38425 Park, 43-38330 Sorensen. | source: 614th Bombardment Squadron History www.401bg.org | | 401BG / 615BS Mission Report - Briefing was early, 0300 hrs, and was for the usual 36 crews, the three spare crews and an observer crew. With one crew aborting two of the spare crews only returned to Deenethorpe about 3.5 hours after the take-off time of 0707 hrs. The primary target for the 401st Group was the oil refinery at Bohlen, near Leipzig and the usual 36 aircraft formed the 94th "C" Group. The leaders were Major C.A. Lewis, Capt. C.W. Utter and Capt. C.S. Schaunaman. There were clouds over the primary so the Buckeye Scouting Force advised the formation to bomb the secondary target, which were the marshalling yards at Chemnitz, by PFF method. No observations were possible. There were fighters and flak in the area but none hindered the Group in successfully carrying out their mission. The four 615th crews on the mission were: 43-38941 Wolf, 44-8653 Kochel, 42-31891 Boddin, 44-8812 Jennings. | source: 615th Bombardment Squadron History www.401bg.org | | 44BG Mission Report - Our tenth consecutive mission and we dispatched to a most familiar target, the Oil Refinery at Magdeburg - and the same conditions as always prevailed. 21 of the Group's aircraft arrived at the Primary but H2X conditions prevailed and all aircraft attacked the Secondary, Magdeburg M/Y, and with unobserved results. Lt. Hinshaw, 66th, in A/C #858 B+ led the Group and he reported that the bombs were 1700 yards ESE of MPI; low squadron unobserved (66th's ships). Bomb loading was 500 lb RDX. 67th's Lt. Kleiderer led the low left squaaron's five 67th ships also with unobserved results. Flak was moderate to intense and fairly accurate with two 67th's having slight damage as well as one from the 66th. But all returned safely. Lt. Zanoxii and crew assigned to the 67th from 70th RD.S/Sgt. Chaffin's experience was: "We flew B (531?) and met our stiffest opposition to date. The flak was very intense and accurate. We received a hit which knocked out the hydraulic system for my tail turret. If the flak had been 1 foot more to the right the flak would have hit the armor plate in front of my left leg. The fluid from the turret shot all over the place and ruined my parachute. Flak was all around me so close I could see the red fire in the bursts and hear the explosions. It's OK though, just as long as no one is hurt - and we got back all in one piece. | source: 44th Bomb Group web page http://www.8thairforce.com/44thbg | | 445BG Mission Report - Target: Magdeburg, Germany - Oil Refinery. A/C Took Off: 33. A/C Bombed Target: 27. A/C Lost: 0 | source: 445th Bomb Group http://445bg.org | 446th Bomb Group Mission Report
Magdeburg The group initially decided not to bomb the primary target, the synthetic oil plant, due to the heavy cloud cover, but the lead plane found a hole in the clouds on the way to the secondary, and made its way back to the primary with the group in tow. They got it. Flak was intense. | source: 446th Bomb Group www.446bg.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/ | | 91st BG / 322nd BS Mission Report - Target attacked: Railway M/Y. Primary Target: Bohlen Synthetic Oil Plant. Capt. Ellis, flying with Lt. Chase, led the low squadron, attacking the Railway M/Yds in Chemnitz by H2X methods with unobserved results. Flak was observed but not encountered. Due to difficulty with H2X equipment this squadron found it necessary to make a second run on the target.
| source: 322rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ | | 91st BG / 324th BS Mission Report - Target: Marshaling yards at Chemnitz. Major Klette and Major Griffin lead the group on a H2X bombing mission to Chemnitz, Germany. The target at Chemnitz was the railway marshaling yards. Flak at the target was nil, but A/A fire was observed from Brux. | source: 91st BG / 324th BS Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ | | 91BG / 401BS Mission Report - On the 2 of March we dispatched 12 A/C and 13 crews to nd attack the Synthetic Oil Plant at Bohlen located about 11 miles south of Leipzig. The secondary target was the RR Marshalling Yards at Chemnitz. The secondary target was bombed by the Low and Lead Squadrons by means of instruments with unobserved results. Due to an instrument failure the High Squadron bombed a target of opportunity at Jocketa located about four miles NE of Plaue.The target was a junction of two main RR over a river and ravine. Results were excellent. AA fire was nil in the target area. Fighter support was adequate. | source: 91st BG / 401st BS Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ |
Non-Combat Accident Reports
Aircraft: B-17G (#42-98003).
Organization: 850BS / 490BG of Eye, Suffolk.
Pilot: Harra, Charles A.
Notes: take off accident.
Location: Eye, Suffolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 2
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17G (#43-37767).
Organization: 339BS / 96BG of Snetterton Heath, Norfolk.
Pilot: Gatch, Benton R Jr.
Notes: killed in mid air collision.
Location: North Sea.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17G (#44-8697).
Organization: 413BS / 96BG of Snetterton Heath, Norfolk.
Pilot: Stilwell, Herbert H.
Notes: killed in mid air collision.
Location: North Sea.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-24DSA (#42-40803).
Organization: 856BS / 492BG of Harrington, Northamptonshire.
Pilot: Cooper, Ralph R.
Notes: taxiing accident.
Location: Harrington, Northamptonshire England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-24J (#44-40134).
Organization: 753BS / 458BG of Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk.
Pilot: McCoy, William R Jr.
Notes: landing accident.
Location: Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51B7 (#43-6771W).
Organization: 505FS / 339FG of Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire.
Pilot: Wark, Raymond D.
Notes: crash landing.
Location: Fowlmere/ N Sta 378 England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51C10 (#42-103793W).
Organization: 368FS / 359FG of East Wretham, Norfolk.
Pilot: Aunspaugh, Merle W.
Notes: killed in a crash.
Location: Polebrook, Northamptonshire England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D (#44-15086).
Organization: 434FS / 479FG of Wattisham, Suffolk.
Pilot: [towed aircraft].
Notes: taxiing accident.
Location: Wattisham, Suffolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D-10NA (#44-14135).
Organization: 343FS / 55FG of Wormingford, Essex.
Pilot: Geary, Edward H.
Notes: landing accident due to mechanical fail.
Location: Wormingford, Essex England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D-15NA (#44-14945).
Organization: 350FS / 353FG of Raydon, Suffolk.
Pilot: Bottger, Raymond T.
Notes: ground accident.
Location: Raydon (Sta 157) England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 2
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D10 (#44-14091).
Organization: 486FS / 352FG of Chievres, Belgium.
Pilot: Mundell, Earl J.
Notes: landing accident out of gas.
Location: Namur/Y-47 Belgium.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D10 (#44-14492).
Organization: 336FS / 4FG of Debden, Essex.
Pilot: Hastings, William H.
Notes: landing accident.
Location: Debden, Essex England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D10 (#44-14591).
Organization: 436FS / 479FG of Wattisham, Suffolk.
Pilot: Palson, Richard C J.
Notes: landing accident.
Location: Wattisham, Suffolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D15 (#44-15231).
Organization: 359FS / 356FG of Martlesham Heath, Suffolk.
Pilot: Sargent, Lawton G Jr.
Notes: landing accident.
Location: Martlesham Heath, Suffolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D5 (#44-13649).
Organization: 336FS / 4FG of Debden, Essex.
Pilot: Miller, Maurice W.
Notes: landing accident.
Location: Debden, Essex England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D5 (#44-13708).
Organization: 358FS / 355FG of Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire.
Pilot: Fees, Edwin W.
Notes: take off accident.
Location: Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ |
Mission "8th AF 859"
Synthetic oil plants and tank works
March 02, 1945Primary source for mission statistics: Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A. Freeman | | | Aircraft
Sent | Aircraft
Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy
Aircraft
X-P-D | Enemy
Aircraft
(on gnd)
X-P-D | USAAF
Aircraft
X-E-D | USAAF
Personnel
KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | | 1232 | 1167 | 2589.2 | 8-3-11 | 0-0-0 | 14-1-166 | 3-6-129 | 2x 96BG aircraft collide | | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | | BOHLEN, GERMANY - Braunkohle-Benzin AG (BRABAG) - Industry | synthetic oil refinery | 60 A/C | photos (2) documents (0) | | ROSITZ, GERMANY - - Industry | oil refinery | 36 A/C | photos (1) documents (0) | | BOHLEN, GERMANY - Braunkohle-Benzin AG (BRABAG) - Industry | synthetic oil refinery | 1 A/C | photos (2) documents (0) | | CHEMNITZ, GERMANY - - Industry | oil refinery | 255 A/C | | | PENIG, GERMANY - - Target of Opportunity | | 12 A/C | | | SAALFELD, GERMANY - - Target of Opportunity | | 13 A/C | | | JOCKETA, GERMANY - - Target of Opportunity | | 12 A/C | | | MAGDEBURG, GERMANY - Braunkahle (BRABAG) - Industry | oil refinery | 38 A/C | photos (4) documents (0) | | BUCKAU, GERMANY - Gruson - Industry | vehicles | 257 A/C | photos (1) documents (0) | | RUHLAND-SCHWARZHEIDE, GERMANY - Braunkohle-Benzin A.G. - Industry | oil refinery | 24 A/C | photos (1) documents (0) | | DRESDEN, GERMANY - - Industry | | 406 A/C | |
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Sent | Aircraft
Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy
Aircraft
X-P-D | Enemy
Aircraft
(on gnd)
X-P-D | USAAF
Aircraft
X-E-D | USAAF
Personnel
KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | | 774 | 713 | 0.0 | 66-6-20 | 36-0-29 | 13-2-0 | 0-0-13 | 479FG crash-lands base | | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | | - - Escort | | 688 A/C | | | - - Reconnaissance | scout | 25 A/C | |
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Sent | Aircraft
Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy
Aircraft
X-P-D | Enemy
Aircraft
(on gnd)
X-P-D | USAAF
Aircraft
X-E-D | USAAF
Personnel
KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | | 64 | 63 | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | | | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | | GERMANY - - Reconnaissance | photo | 18 A/C | | | ST. NAZAIRE FRANCE - - Reconnaissance | photo | 3 A/C | | | - - Screen | | 2 A/C | | | CONTINENT / UK - - Reconnaissance | weather | 6 A/C | | | AZORES/ATLANTIC/UK - - Reconnaissance | weather | 4 A/C | | | - - Air Sea Rescue | | 22 A/C | | | - - Communications | radio countermeasures | 6 A/C | | | - - Communications | radio-relay | 1 A/C | | | - - Communications | Red Stocking | 2 A/C | |
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