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8th Air Force Europe in March 1944
WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ and HQ Squadron, VIII Air Force Services Command is redesignated as HQ and HQ Squadron, Air Service Command, US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF), after functioning as such during Jan and Feb 44 while redesignation was being authorized. 8th Strategic Air Depot Area is redesignated VIII Air Force Services Command.
Mission 243: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Brest, Tours, Lorient, Nantes and Reims at 2005-2115 hours without loss.
During Mar, HQ 491st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 852d, 853d, 854th and 855th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) move from North Pickenham to Metfield, England with B-24s; first mission is 2 Jun.
THURSDAY, 2 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 244:
1. 327 B-17s are dispatched to the Franfurt am Main marshalling yard; only 101 hit the primary target because of PFF failures; 103 hit Frankfurt Offenbach, 49 hit Ludwigshafen, 20 hit Limburg, 12 hit Fischbach and 8 hit other targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost with 1 KIA, 5 WIA and 80 MIA. 154 B-24s are also dispatched to the same target; 36 hit the primary and 46 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 3 damaged beyond repair; casualties are 16 KIA, 4 WIA and 11 MIA. The bombers claim 2-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft. Escort is provided by 33 P-38s, 445 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 111 P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged; the P-47s claim 13-2-3 Luftwaffe aircraft, 3 P-47s are lost and 7 damaged, 2 pilots are MIA; the P-51s claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft, 2 P-51s are damaged and 1 pilot is MIA.
2. 84 of 106 B-17s dispatched hit the air depot at Chartres, France; 1 B-17 is lost and 12 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA. This mission is escorted by 89 P-38s, 145 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 47 Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 P-38 is lost.
Mission 245: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Caen, Amiens, Rouen, Chartres and Rennes, France at 2015-2054 hours without loss.
HQ 92d Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Camp Blainey to Sudbury, England.
FRIDAY, 3 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 246: 555 B-17s and 193 B-24s are dispatched to industrial areas and aviation industry plants at Berlin, Erkner and Oranienburg but deteriorating weather and dense contrails force the formations to abort or seek targets of opportunity, i.e.:
1. 9 of 555 B-17s are lost, 61 hit Wilhelmshaven and 14 hit targets of opportunity; casualties are 2 KIA, 3 WIA and 83 MIA.
3. 2 of 193 B-24s are lost and only 4 hit targets of opportunity; casualties are 3 KIA, 8 WIA and 20 MIA.
The bombers claim 3-1-1 Luftwaffe aircraft. Escort is provided by 89 P-38s, 484 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 130 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claim and loses are:
1. 1 P-38 is lost and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.
2. 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 13 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA.
3. P-51s claim 8-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost; 5 pilots are MIA.
During a CARPETBAGGER mission on the night of 3/4 Mar, 2 B-24s are lost.
SATURDAY, 4 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 247: 502 B-17s are dispatched to hit industrial areas in the suburbs of Berlin; bad weather forces aircraft to either turn back or hit targets of opportunity and only 1 wing attacks the primary target and a total of 249 bomb. 15 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 120 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 11 WIA and 141 MIA. Targets: 100 hit Bonn, 35 hit Cologne, 33 hit Dusseldorf, 30 hit Berlin/Klein Machnow, 7 hit Frankfurt and 33 hit other targets of opportunity. B-24s were also dispatched but abort because of the weather. Escort is provided by 86 P-38s, 563 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 121 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 24 fighters were lost. Details are:
1. P-38s: 4 lost, 2 damaged beyond repair, 1 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 MIA.
2. P-47s claim 3-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 4 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; casualties are 3 MIA.
3. P-51s claim 5-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 16 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 16 MIA.
CARPETBAGGER operations are flown during the night of 4/5 Mar.
SUNDAY, 5 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 248: 219 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Mont De Marsan, Cayeux and Bordeaux/Merignac, France but bad cloud conditions force a target change and multiple aborts; 62 hit Bergerac Airfield, 60 hit Cognac/Chateaubernard Airfield, 41 hit Landes de Bussac Airfield and 1 hits La Roche Airfield; they claim 14-2-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-24s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 23 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 35 MIA. Escort is provided by 34 P-38s, 185 P-47s and 88 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 2 P-38s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 1 pilot is killed and another MIA; 1 P-47 is damaged and 1 pilot is KIA; the P-51s claim 14-0-6 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 0-0-6 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 4 MIA.
Mission 249: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Le Mans, Paris, Orleans and Reims, France at 2132-2152 hours without loss.
A CARPETBAGGER mission is also flown.
MONDAY, 6 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 250: 504 B-17s and 226 B-24s are dispatched to hit industrial areas in the suburbs of Berlin; fierce fighter opposition claims 69 bombers (the highest number lost by the Eighth Air Force in a single day) and 11 fighters; the bombers claim 97-28-60 Luftwaffe fighters; details are:
1. 248 B-17s hit secondary targets in the Berlin area; 18 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 172 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 184 MIA.
2. 226 B-17s hit targets of opportunity at Templin, Verden, Kalkeberge, Potsdam, Oranienburg and Wittenberg; 35 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; casualties are 15 WIA and 354 MIA.
3. 198 B-24s hit the primary target (Genshagen industrial area), secondary targets in the Berlin area and targets of opportunity at Potsdam; 16 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 54 damaged; casualties are 15 KIA, 8 WIA and 148 MIA.
Escort is provided by 86 P-38s, 615 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 100 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; results are:
1. P-38s claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost, the pilot is MIA.
2. P-47s claim 36-7-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-47s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 5 MIA.
3. P-51s claim 43-1-20 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; casualties are 5 MIA.
The fighters also claim 1-0-12 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
Mission 251: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Nantes, Cambrai, Lille, Chateauroux and Lorient, France at 2029-2130 hours without loss.
CARPETBAGGER missions are also flown.
A detachment of 22d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), ceases operating from Attlebridge and returns to base at Mount Farm, England with F-5s.
TUESDAY, 7 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 466th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Attlebridge, England from the US.
WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 252: The primary target is the ball bearing plant at Erkner, a suburb of Berlin; enemy opposition is fierce and 37 bombers and 16 fighters are lost; 320 of 414 B-17s and 150 of 209 B-24s dispatched hit the primary; 36 B-17s hit Wildau and targets of opportunity; 33 B-24s hit Berlin and targets of opportunity; the bombers claim 63-17-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 28 B-17s and 9 B-24s are lost, 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; casualties are 4 KIA, 14 WIA and 364 MIA. Escort is provided by 104 P-38s, 613 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 174 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claims/losses are:
1. P-38s claim 9-2-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-38s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 MIA.
2. P-47s claim 49-6-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 P-47s are lost, 13 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA.
3. P-51s claim 29-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 4 MIA.
An additional 8-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft are claimed on the ground.
786th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 466th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Attlebridge, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 22 Mar.
THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 253: 8 bombers and 1 fighter are lost on missions to Germany; the bombers claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 221 bombers are damaged; details are:
1. 339 of 361 B-17s dispatched hit Berlin; 6 B-17s are lost and 1 is damaged beyond repair; casualties are 10 KIA, 6 WIA and 43 MIA.
2. 150 of 165 B-24s hit secondary targets at Hannover, Brunswick and Nienburg; 2 B-24s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; casualties are 12 WIA and 20 MIA.
Escort is provided by 83 P-38s, 572 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 153 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; no claims are made; 1 P-38 is lost, 2 P-38s and 1 P-51 are damaged beyond repair; casualties are 1 KIA, 1 WIA and 1 MIA.
784th, 785th and 787th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 466th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrive at Attlebridge, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 22 Mar.
FRIDAY, 10 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 254: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Monceau-sur-Sambre, Belgium at 2127-2137 hours without loss.
SATURDAY, 11 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 255: France and Germany are hit in two raids; 1 B-17 and 4 fighters are lost; both forces use blind-bombing techniques due to thick overcast:
1. 120 of 124 B-17s dispatched hit the marshalling yard at Munster; 1 B-17 drops on Bentheim as a target of opportunity and 3 drop on Burgsteinfurt accidentally; 1 B-17 is lost and 24 damaged; casualties are 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 90 P-47s and 50 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost and 2 P-47s are damaged; casualties are 2 MIA.
2. 34 of 51 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Wizernes, France; 1 B-24 is damaged. Escort is provided by 40 P-38s and 213 P-47s; 2 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 2 MIA.
HQ 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 789th, 790th and 791st Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) arrive at Rackheath, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 10 Apr.
SUNDAY, 12 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 256: 46 of 52 B-24s dispatched hit a V-weapon site at St Pol/Siracourt, France and 6 hit targets of opportunity, all using blind-bombing techniques; 1 B-24 is lost and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA.
788th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrives at Rackheath, England from the US with B-24s; first mission is 10 Apr.
MONDAY, 13 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 257: 127 B-17s and 144 B-24s are dispatched to bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais, France area but the strike is cancelled due to bad weather; 7 B-17s bomb Poix Airfield as a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 61 B-17s and 13 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 6 KIA, 1 WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 213 P-47s; 1 P-47 is damaged.
Mission 258: 7 of 7 B-17s drop 350 bundles of leaflets on Reims, Orleans, Paris, Amiens, Rouen and Chartres, France at 2104-2137 hours without loss.
WEDNESDAY, 15 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 259: 185 of 187 B-17s and 145 of 157 B-24s hit the industrial area at Brunswick, Germany and targets of opportunity; they claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are a lost and 31 B-17s and 15 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 4 WIA and 30 MIA. Escort is provided by 121 P-38s and 467 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s; 4 P-38s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 4 pilots MIA; P-47s claim 39-3-13 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground, 1 P-47 is lost and 5 damaged, casualties are 1 MIA.
Mission 260: 8 P-47s are dispatched, 2 with 2x1,000 pound (454 kg) bombs, against an enemy barge in the Zuider Zee, The Netherlands to test the feasibility of this type of operation; near misses are scored.
Mission 261: 7 of 7 B-17s drop 350 bundles of leaflets on Rennes, Lille, Reims, Le Mans, Paris and Chartres, France at 2115-2152 hours without loss.
THURSDAY, 16 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 262: 2 primary targets and targets of opportunity in Germany are attacked; fighter opposition is heavy against the first force of bombers over France and Germany; the bombers claim 68-32-43 Luftwaffe aircraft; 23 bombers and 10 fighters are lost and 179 damaged:
1. 401 of 501 B-17s hit Augsburg, 46 bomb Gessertshausen and 18 hit Ulm; 18 B-17s are lost; casualties are 1 KIA, 10 WIA and 171 MIA.
2. 197 of 213 B-24s bomb Friedrichshafen and 13 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-24s are lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; casualties are 6 KIA, 7 WIA and 46 MIA.
Escort is provided by 125 P-38s, 608 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 135 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claims and losses are:
1. P-38s: 1 lost.
2. P-47s claim 25-3-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-47s are lost and 5 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
3. P-51s claim 53-4-16 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; 6 pilots are MIA.
The fighters also claim 1-0-13 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
FRIDAY, 17 MARCH 1944 - ST PATRICK'S DAY
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 263: 135 P-47s are dispatched on low level strafing attacks against airfields in France; 25 attack Soesterburg Airfield, The Netherlands and 25 attack Chartres, France; they claim 3-2-8 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground, 2 P-47s are lost, the pilots are MIA.
SATURDAY, 18 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 264: Aircraft plants and airfields in Germany are targetted; enemy fighters attack in force and AA fire is heavy; the bombers claim 45-10-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 43 bombers and 13 fighters are lost;
1. 284 of 290 B-17s dispatched bomb the aviation industry at Oberpfaffenhofen, air depots at Lechfeld and Landsberg, Memmingen Airfield and targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost and 102 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 9 WIA and 80 MIA.
2. 196 of 221 B-17s dispatched bomb Munich, the aviation industry at Oberpfaffenhofen, Lechfeld air depot and targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 80 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 4 WIA and 70 MIA.
3. 227 B-24s are dispatched to aviation industry targets at Friedrichshafen/ Lowenthal (77 bomb), Friedrichshafen/Manzell (38 bomb) and Friedrichshafen/ Zeppelin (52 bomb), the city of Friedrichshafen (22 bomb) and 9 hit targets of opportunity; 28 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 60 damaged; casualties are 6 KIA, 9 WIA and 286 MIA
Escort is provided by 113 P-38s, 598 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 214 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s. Details are:
1. P-38s claim 11-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 are lost and 1 damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
2. P-47s claim 2-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 6 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
3. P-51s claim 26-2-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 3 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 6 MIA.
The fighters also claim 3-2-2 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
Mission 265: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on Cambrai, Lille, Paris, Amiens, Rouen and Caen, France at 2115-2139 hours without loss.
SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 266: V-weapon sites in France are hit.
1. 117 of 129 B-17s hit sites at Wizernes and Watten; 1 B-17 is lost and 74 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA.
2. 56 of 64 B-17s hit Marquise/Mimoyecques; 14 B-17s are damaged; 1 crewman is WIA.
Escort is provided by 82 P-47s; 1 is damaged and the pilot is WIA.
Mission 267: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on The Hague, Rotterdam, Leeuwarden, Utrecht and Amsterdam, The Netherlands at 2114-2140 hours without loss.
Mission 268: 35 P-47s [25 with 500-pound (227 kg) bombs] are dispatched to Gilze-Rijen Airfield, The Netherlands; 20 of the 25 bomb without loss; 39 P-51s fly a supporting sweep.
MONDAY, 20 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 269: 353 B-17s and 92 B-24s are dispatched to targets in Germany but high clouds and the malfunction of blind-bombing equipment cause nearly 300 bombers to abort the mission; 7 bombers and 8 fighters are lost; the bombers claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; the bombers also drop 900,000 leaflets; details are:
1. 54 B-17s hit Mannheim, 51 hit Frankfurt, 19 hit Bingen and 22 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 150 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 8 WIA and 40 MIA.
2. 1 of 92 B-24s hit Bretuit Airfield; 2 B-24s are lost and 15 damaged; casualties are 3 WIA and 21 MIA.
Escort is provided by 44 P-38s, 345 P-47s and 205 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claims and losses are:
1. P-38s: no claims or losses
2. P-47s claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 6 P-47s are lost and 9 damaged; 6 pilots are MIA.
3. P-51s claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost and 3 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
TUESDAY, 21 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 270: 56 of 65 B-24s hit V-weapon sites at Watten, France; 7 B-24s are damaged; escort is provided by 48 P-47s without loss.
Mission 271: 41 P-51s carry out a sweep of the Bordeaux, France area; they claim 12-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 9-0-4 on the ground; 7 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 7 MIA.
Mission 272: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on The Hague, Amsterdam, Leeuwarden, Rotterdam and Utrecht, The Netherlands at 2102-2133 hours without loss.
WEDNESDAY, 22 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 273: 474 B-17s and 214 B-24s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry plants at Oranienburg and Basdorf, Germany but 8/10 to 10/10 cloud cover prevents an attack; the bombers hit the secondary target, Berlin, and targets of opportunity; the bombers also drop 6.368 million leaflets; 1 bomber is damaged beyond repair and 347 bombers are damaged; casualties are 20 WIA and 135 MIA. Details are:
1. 460 of 474 B-17s bomb Berlin; 7 B-17s are lost.
2. 196 of 214 B-24s bomb Berlin and 1 bombs Heide; 5 B-24s are lost. Escort is provided by 125 P-38s, 496 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 196 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s. There is no air combat and the only claim is for 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground by P-47s. Details are:
1. 3 P-38s are lost and 7 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
2. 5 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 9 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 5 MIA.
3. 4 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged beyond repair; 4 pilots are MIA.
Mission 274: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 263 bundles of leaflets on Paris, France; and The Hague, Amsterdam and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands at 2135-2207 hours without loss.
THURSDAY, 23 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 275: 524 B-17s and 244 B-24s are dispatched to attack airfields in W Germany and aircraft factories in the Brunswick area; due to unfavorable weather conditions, only 68 B-24s hit a primary target and 639 bombers hit secondary targets and targets of opportunity; the bombers claim 33-8-11 Luftwaffe aircraft; 22 B-17s, 6 B-24s and 4 P-51s are lost; details are:
1. 205 B-17s hit Brunswick and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 16 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 221 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA, 6 WIA and 158 MIA.
2. 47 B-17s hit the secondary target at Munster, 83 hit Hamm, 67 hit Ahlen and 19 hit Neubeckum; 6 B-17s are lost and 56 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 61 MIA.
3. 68 B-24s hit the primary target, Handorf Airfield; 36 hit Achmer City, 21 hit Achmer Airfield, 12 hit Munster, 52 hit Osnabruck and 14 hit other targets of opportunity; 6 B-24s are lost and 45 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 59 MIA.
Escort is provided by 119 P-38s, 539 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 183 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; details are:
1. P-38s: no claims or losses.
2. P-47s claim 4-0-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged.
3. P-51s claim 18-1-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
The fighters also claim 2-0-10 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
Mission 276: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 262 bundles of leaflets on Grenoble, Vichy, Lyon, Toulouse and Limoges, France at 2227-2304 hours without loss.
FRIDAY, 24 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 277: The B-17 primary target is Schweinfurt, Germany; the B-24 primary target are airfields at Metz and Nancy, France; the bombers make no claims of Luftwaffe aircraft:
1. 230 B-17s are dispatched; 60 hit Schweinfurt using blind-bombing equipment and 162 hit Frankfurt/Main marshalling yard; 3 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 68 damaged; casualties are 14 KIA, 1 WIA and 30 MIA.
2. 206 B-24s are dispatched; the primaries are overcast and 148 hit the secondary target of St Diziere Airfield and 33 hit Nancy/Essey Airfield; 24 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 3 WIA.
Escort is provided by 84 P-38s, 301 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 155 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; details are:
P-38s: 2 lost, both pilots MIA.
P-47s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 2-0-4 on the ground; no losses.
P-51s: no claims; 3 P-51s are lost; 2 pilots are MIA.
Mission 278: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Tours and Lorient, France; and Charleroi, Brussels and Antwerp, Belgium at 2133-2210 hours without loss.
SATURDAY, 25 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 406th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VIII Air Force Composite Command (attached to 328th Service Group), moves from Watton to Harrington, England with B-24s; the squadron began flying CARPETBAGGER missions in Jan 44.
SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 280: V-weapon sites in France are hit.
1. 234 of 243 and 138 of 185 B-24s hit 9 sites in the Pas de Calais area; 4 B-17s and 1 B-24 are lost, 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 134 B-17s and 38 B-24s are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 15 WIA and 50 MIA.
2. 128 of 145 B-17s hit 7 sites in the Cherbourg area; 64 B-17s are damaged.
Escort is provided by 266 P-47s; they claim 1-1-4 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot is MIA) and 5 damaged.
Mission 281: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on Caen, Rennes, Amiens, Paris and Rouen, France at 2114-2206 hours without loss.
MONDAY, 27 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 282: Airfields in France are attacked by 701 bombers.
1. 285 of 290 B-17s hit the following airfields: St Jean D/Angely (55), La Rochell/La Leu (59), Chartres (60), Tours/Parcay Meslay Air Depot (74), Usine Liotard Air Depot (35) and targets of opportunity (2); 1 B-17 is lost and 37 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA.
2. 248 of 256 B-17s hit the following airfields: Bordeaux/Merignac (123), Cayeux (118) and Chartres (7); 2 B-17s are lost and 51 damaged; casualties are 11 KIA, 2 WIA and 20 MIA.
3. All 168 B-24s hit the following airfields: Pau/Ont Long (72), Biarritz (49) and Mont de Marsan (47); 3 B-24s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 18 damaged; casualties are 20 KIA, 1 WIA and 31 MIA.
Escort is provided by 132 P-38s, 706 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 122 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; results are:
P-38s: 2 lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; 2 pilots are MIA.
P-47s claim 6-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 5 are MIA.
P-51s claim 2-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 30-1-11 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
TUESDAY, 28 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 283: 2 formations of B-17s are dispatched to hit airfields in France while B-24s are dispatched to The Netherlands.
1. 182 B-17s are dispatched to Dijon/Longvic Airfield (117 bomb) and Reims/Champagne Airfield (59 bomb); 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 60 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA and 1 WIA.
2. 191 B-17s are dispatched to Chateaudun Airfield (127 bomb) and Chartres Airfield (61 bomb); 2 B-17s are lost and 59 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 28 MIA.
3. 77 B-24s are dispatched to the Ijmuiden, The Netherlands E-boat pens but they are recalled due to excessive clouds and failure of the escort to takeoff.
Escort for the B-17s is provided by 46 P-38s, 284 P-47s and 123 P-51s; details are:
P-38s: no claims or losses
P-47s claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft.
P-51s claim 30-1-32 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost; the pilots are MIA.
36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VIII Air Force Composite Command [attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)] moves from Watton to Harrington, England with B-24s; the squadron flies CARPETBAGGER missions.
WEDNESDAY, 29 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 284:
1. 236 B-17s are dispatched to Germany; 193 hit the secondary target (Brunswick), 20 hit Unterluss, 18 hit Stedorf and 2 hit other targets of opportunity; the B-17s claim 8-3-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 9 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 66 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 5 WIA and 90 MIA. Escort is provided by 50 P-38s, 242 P-47s and 136 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 44-4-13 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 13-7-14 on the ground; results are:
P-38s: 2 lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are KIA and 2 MIA.
P-47s: 1 lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 2 pilots are WIA.
P-51s: 9 lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 3 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 8 MIA.
2. 77 B-24s are dispatched to V-weapon sites at Watten, France; only 30 bomb because of PFF failures; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 6 damaged; casualties are 18 KIA and 1 WIA. Escort is provided by 37 P-47s; no claims or losses.
THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 285: In The Netherlands, 24 P-47 fighter-bombers escorted by 50 other P-47s dive-bomb Eindhoven and Sosterburg, Airfields without loss; 22 other P-47s strafe Venlo, Deelen and Twente/Enschede Airfields; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-2 on the ground; 1 P-47 is lost and 3 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.
Mission 286: 6 of 6 B-17s drop 300 bundles of leaflets on Rouen, Rennes, Reims, Paris and Amiens, France at 2125-2155 hours without loss.
HQ 93d Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Elveden Hall to Mendlesham, England; groups will be assigned in May 44.
FRIDAY, 31 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ 486th Bombardment Group (Heavy) arrives at Sudbury, England from the US.
Source:
COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59
used sources by McKillop:
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY by Roger A. Freeman, ISBN 1-85409-071-2
