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8th Air Force Europe in September 1944
FRIDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
1. Mission 595: 679 B-17s and 294 B-24s are dispatched to hit Ludwigshafen, Haguenan, Gustavsburg, Mainz and Hallach, Germany and Foret de Haguenan, France; high clouds are encountered over France and the mission is recalled; 1 B-17 bombs Hallach; 2 B-17s and 1 B-24 are damaged beyond repair and 5 B-17s are damaged; 30 airmen are KIA and 2 WIA. Escort is provided by 508 P-38s and P-51s; 3 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
2. Mission 597: 12 of 12 Azon-equipped B-24s hit the Ravenstein rail bridge, the Netherlands without loss. Escort is provided by 15 of 15 P-51s.
3. Mission 599: 3 of 3 B-17s fly a Micro H mission to attack a fuel dump in the Bois del la Haussiere, Belgium without loss. Escort is provided by 2 of 2 P-51s.
VIII Fighter Command fighter-bomber missions:
1. 265 of 273 P-47s attack railroads in N and NE France; they claim 5-0-2 aircraft on the ground; 3 P-47s are lost (pilots are MIA), 1 damaged beyond repair and 28 damaged.
2. 33 of 33 attack targets in the Brussels, Belgium area without loss.
31 of 44 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
SATURDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Missin 596: 34 of 36 P-47s strafe gun positions and road and rail traffic in the Bruges-Ghent-Courtrai-Roulers, Belgium area; 2 P-47s are damaged beyond repair and 7 are damaged.
2 C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to France.
SUNDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
1. Mission 601: 393 of 404 B-17s make a visual attack on 16 gun batteries and defensive installations in the Brest, France area; 2 B-17s are lost and 13 damaged; 16 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 15 of 16 P-51s without loss. Bad weather cancels fighter-bomber mission by 50 P-38s against strongpoints in the Brest area.
2. 345 B-17s are dispatched to bomb the Ludwigshafen/Opau synthetic oil plant in Germany (325); 1 hits a target of opportunity and 5 drop leaflets; 1 B-17 is lost and 103 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 233 of 254 P-51s; they claim 7-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 2 damaged.
125 of 127 P-47s strafe transportation targets in the Tilburg, the Netherlands, Namur, Belgium and Cologne, Germany areas; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA), 1 damaged beyond repair and 18 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA.
40 B-24s and 4 C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown:
Mission 605: 739 bombers and 315 fighters are dispatched to SE Germany; 6 bombers are lost; during the missions, a P-51 shoots down a Swiss Bf 109 near Dubendorf.
1. 203 of 218 B-17s attack a Stuttgart aero engine plant and targets of opportunity (4); 2 B-17s are lost and 109 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 5 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 147 of 160 P-51s; they claim 19-0-0 aircraft in the air and 14-0-27 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.
2. 277 of 303 B-17s hit a Ludwigshafen synthetic oil plant and target of opportunity (1); 2 B-17s are lost and 163 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 155 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 2 damaged.
3. 183 of 218 B-24s hit Karlsruhe marshalling yard and targets of opportunity (2); 2 B-24s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 78 damaged; 22 airmen are MIA.
Mission 606: 143 of 143 B-17s make a visual attack on enemy positions in the Brest, France area; 2 B-17s are lost and 1 damaged; 18 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 21 of 22 P-51s without loss.
Mission 608: 7 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
46 B-24s and 2 C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night; 1 B-24 is lost.
VIII Fighter Command fighter-bomber missions:
1. 48 P-38s and 167 P-47s attack transportation targets in W Germany and claim 0-0-2 aircraft in the air and 62-0-30 on the ground; 4 P-47s are lost (pilots MIA), 2 damaged beyond repair and 10 damaged.
2. 67 P-38s and P-47s attack 3 airfields in the Hanau/Giessen, Germany area and claim 2-0-0 aircraft in the air and 66-0-28 on the ground; 1 P-38 and 3 P-47s are lost (pilots are MIA), 1 P-47 damaged beyond repair and 1 P-38 and 3 P-47s damaged.
WEDNESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 607: 49 P-38s and 165 P-47s strafe rail and highway traffic in the Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and the Aachen and Koblenz, Germany areas; 1 P-38 and 3 P-47s are lost to flak (pilots are MIA) and 5 P-38s and 7 P-47s are damaged.
70 B-24s fly TRUCKIN' missions (carrying cargo to airfields in France).
FRIDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1944
ETO: The first V-2 fired in combat explodes in a Paris suburb; the second strikes a London suburb a few hours later.
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 611: 1,070 bombers and 349 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial targets in the Mainz and Ludwigshafen, Germany area; attacks were visual at the primary targets; 10 bombers are lost:
1. 348 of 384 B-17s attack the Ludwigshafen/Opau oil refinery; 5 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 185 damaged; 11 airmen are KIA, 15 WIA and 45 MIA. Escort is provided by 88 of 95 P-51s without loss.
2. 247 of 300 B-24s hit Karlsruhe marshalling yard; 1 hits a secondary target at Ludwigshafen; 4 B-24s are lost and 92 damaged; 7 airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 29 MIA. Escort is provided by 82 of 93 P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
3. 386 B-17s are dispatched to hit an armored vehicle factory at Gustavsburg (167) and oil depot at Kassel (166); 23 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 132 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 144 of 161 P-51s without loss.
Mission 615: 7 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in the Low Countries, France and Germany during the night.
VIII Fighter Command fighter missions:
1. 160 P-38s strafe and bomb rail transportation E of the Rhine River; they claim 7-0-1 aircraft on the ground.
2. 194 P-47s and P-51s strafe targets in the Heidelberg-Darmstadt-Wurzburg and Frankfurt/Main-Koblenz areas; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost and 9 P-47s and 4 P-51s are damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 2 MIA.
A C-47 flies a CARPETBAGGER mission in France.
110 B-24s fly TRUCKIN' mission to Orleans/Bricy Airfield, France.
SATURDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
Mission 613: 68 of 72 B-17s fly Operation GRASSY to drop 180 containers of supplies to French Resistance Fighters 25 miles (40 km) S of Besancon without loss. Escort is provided by 30 of 32 P-51s without loss.
Mission 614: 1,140 bombers and 435 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in W Germany; the primaries are attacked by both visual and PFF means; 14 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:
1. 419 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Mannheim (387); 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost and 197 damaged; 10 airmen are WIA and 54 MIA. Escort is provided by 140 of 152 P-51s without loss.
2. 337 B-24s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Mainz (265); targets of opportunity are the marshalling yard at Worms (24) and Koblenz (6); 3 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 104 damaged; 5 airmen are KIA and 33 MIA. Escort is provided by 125 of 128 P-51s without loss.
3. 384 B-17s are dispatched to an armaments plant at Dusseldorf (251); targets of opportunity are Bonn (12), Leverkusen (11) and others (16); 6 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 148 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 63 MIA. Escort is provided by 142 of 155 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost.
Mission 618: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets on Belgium, France and Germany during the night.
VIII Fighter Command fighter-bomber missions:
1. 44 P-47s sweep the Lingen-Munster-Haltern area to spot flak positions and troop concentrations and strafe an airfield; they claim 1-1-0 aircraft in the air and on the ground.
2. 196 P-47s and P-51s bomb and strafe shipping between the German mainland and Schouwen, Overflakee and Walcheren Islands, the Netherlands, installations on the islands, and rail and road traffic NW and NE of Frankfurt/Main; they claim 13-0-5 aircraft in the air and on the ground; 7 P-47s and 1 P-51 are lost; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are damaged beyond repair and 14 P-47s and 3 P-51s are damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 7 MIA.
40 B-24s and C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER mission during the night.
SUNDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 4 missions are flown.
Mission 619: 1,144 bombers and 570 fighters are dispatched to targets in the Stuttgart, Germany area; 7 bombers are lost mostly to flak and 5 fighters are lost:
1. 388 B-24s are dispatched and hit secondary targets, the marshalling yards at Ulm (247) and Heilbronn (100); 2 others bomb targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 65 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 153 P-38s and P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 1 P-38 and 3 P-51s damaged; 1 pilot is KIA and 2 MIA.
2. 385 B-17s are dispatched to hit a tank factory at Nurnberg (173), Giebelstadt Airfield (112) and an aircraft components plant at Furth (60); 8 others hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost and 147 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 28 MIA. Escort is provided by 221 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 38-0-44 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
3. 372 B-17s are dispatched to attack a motor vehicle factory at Gaggenau (140), a jet-propulsion units plant at Zuffenhausen (116) and an engine factory at Sindelfingen (73); 19 others hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost, 5 damaged beyond repair and 169 damaged; 9 airmen are WIA and 27 MIA. Escort is provided by 135 of 153 P-51s; they claim 1-1-0 aircraft in the air and 29-0-1 on the ground without loss.
Mission 620: 1 B-17 flies a mission to trial the GB-4 radio/visual control bomb against Duren, Germany
Mission 621: 3 of 3 B-17s fly a radar and photo reconnaissance mission over Germany; leaflets are also dropped.
6 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets on France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
121 of 135 P-47s strafe airfields and ground and rail traffic in a sweep over the Cologne, Frankfurt/Main, and Kassel areas; they claim 10-0-21 aircraft on the ground; 8 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 8 pilots are MIA.
35 B-24s and C-47s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
MONDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Two missions are flown.
Mission 623: 1,131 bombers and 440 fighters are dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants and refineries in Germany; AAF encounters an estimated 525 Luftwaffe fighters; 40 bombers and 17 fighters are lost; AAF claim 115-7-23 aircraft in the air and 42-0-43 on the ground:
1. 384 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil refineries at Bohlen (75), Chemnitz (75), Brux (39) and Ruhland (22); the Chemnitz force is an Operation FRANTIC force that along with 64 P-51s, continues on and lands in the USSR; targets of opportunity are a tire plant at Fulda (66), a marshalling yard at Fulda (40) and 16 others; they claim 12-16-1 aircraft; 16 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 94 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 153 MIA. Escort is provided by 252 of 275 P-51s; they claim 57-2-12 aircraft in the air and 26-0-25 on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; 4 pilots are MIA.
2. 351 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil refineries at Merseburg (111) and Lutzkendorf (96); targets of opportunity hit are Eisennach (71), Labejum (12), Rossla (6) and 25 others; they claim 1-1-2 aircraft; 13 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 106 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 21 WIA and 120 MIA. Escort is provided by 247 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 13-0-1 aircraft in the air and 4-0-2 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 2 P-47s and 4 P-51s damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
3. 396 B-24s are dispatched to hit an engine factory at Hannover (88), oil refineries at Misburg (87) and Magdeburg (33) and an ordinance depot at Magdeburg (27); targets of opportunity hit are Magdeburg (70), Stendal (45), Diepholz (9) and 3 others; they claim 4-8-1 aircraft; 10 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 179 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 13 WIA and 102 MIA. Escort is provided by 164 P-38s and P-51s; they claim 45-5-10 aircraft in the air and 12-0-16 on the ground; 10 P-51s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged; 14 pilots are MIA.
Mission 625: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France and Germany during the night.
38 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
TUESDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Two missions are flown.
Mission 626: For the second day, 888 bombers and 662 fighters are dispatched on a major assault on the German oil industry; they are intercepted by 400-450 Luftwaffe fighters; AAF claims 81-16-20 aircraft in the air; 35 bombers and 12 fighters are lost:
1. 299 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil refineries at Brux (79) and Ruhland (59); targets of opportunity are Lauta (48), Plauen (30), Etterwinden (12), Karlsbad (11), Kitzingen (11) and others (21); PFF methods are used for all targets; they claim 14-9-7 aircraft; 19 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 94 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 171 MIA. Escort is provided by 238 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 29-2-4 aircraft in the air and 21-0-16 on the ground; 10 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair.
2. 348 B-17s are dispatched to hit Magdeburg/Rothensee (144), Magdeburg/ Friedrichstadt (73) and Bohlen (35); targets of opportunity are Fulda (46), Molbis (11) and other (8); they bomb visually; they claim 13-5-5 aircraft; 12 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 161 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 9 WIA and 109 MIA. Escort is provided by 236 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 25-0-4 aircraft in the air and 5-0-15 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
3. 241 B-24s are dispatched to hit Hemmingstedt (66), Kiel (58) and Misburg (34); targets of opportunity are Laharte (38), marshalling yard at Northeim (12), Hannover (11), Hemmingstedt (3) and other (3); PFF was used for bombing; 4 B-24s are lost and 49 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 37 MIA. Escort is provided by 105 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s without loss.
Mission 627: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflet in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
36 B-24s and C-47s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.
WEDNESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
Mission 628: 1,015 bombers and 477 fighters attack oil and industrial targets in S Germany by visual means; 15 bombers and 8 fighters are lost:
1. 376 B-17s are dispatched to oil refineries at Stuttgart/Sindelfingen (109) and Ludwigshafen (74); secondary targets hit are Darmstadt (95) and Wiesbaden (8); targets of opportunity hit are Mainz (22), a marshalling yard near Wiesbaden (12) and others (3); 4 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 134 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 37 MIA. Escort is provided by 73 of 74 P-47s, they claim 6-0-2 aircraft on the ground.
2. 342 B-24s are dispatched to hit Schwabish Hall Airfield (65), a munitions dump at Ulm (65) and Weissenhorn (45); a target of opportunity hit is Reichelsheim (1); 4 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 127 damaged; 3 airman are WIA and 39 MIA. Escort is provided by 99 P-38s and P-51s; they claim 14-0-5 aircraft on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost.
3. 297 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil refineries at Merseburg (141) and Lutzkendorf (77); targets of opportunity hit are Giessen (17), Eisenach (12), Altenburg (7), Gera (7) and other (19); they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 7 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 145 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 67 MIA. Escort is provided by 233 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 33-0-4 aircraft in the air; 6 P-51s are lost.
Mission 629: 11 B-24s are dispatched on an Azon mission to the oil refinery at Hemminstedt (6); 5 hit the secondary target, ammunition dumps at Kropp. Escort is provided by 15 of 15 P-51s without loss.
Mission 631: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets on the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
73 of 74 B-17s, escorted by 63 P-51s, continuing the UK-USSR-Italy-UK shuttle-bombing mission, take off from USSR bases, bomb steel and armament works at Diosgyor, Hungary and proceed to Fifteenth AF bases in Italy.
40 of 48 P-51s fly a strafing mission S of Munich hitting an aircraft dispersal area, airfield and marshalling yard; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost.
THURSDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 632: 2 B-17 control aircraft and 2 B-17 CASTOR drones fly an APHRODITE mission to the oil refinery at Hemmingstedt, Germany; the target is missed.
FRIDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 632: As part of Operation FRANTIC, 110 B-17s are dispatched to drop supplies to Warsaw patriots and then proceed to bases in the USSR; a weather front is encountered over the North Sea and the bombers are recalled. Escort is provided by 149 of 156 P-51s; 2 P-51s collide in a cloud and are lost.
Three Fighter Wings and the 15 Fighter Groups are reassigned from the VIII Fighter Command to the three Bombardment Divisions as follows:
1st Bombardment Division
67th Fighter Wing: 20th, 352d, 356th, 359th and 364th Fighter Groups
2d Bombardment Division
65th Fighter Wing: 4th, 56th, 355th, 361st and 479th Fighter Groups
3d Bombardment Division
66th Fighter Wing: 55th, 78th, 339th, 353d and 357th Fighter Groups
SATURDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 635: 178 P-47s and 149 P-51s are dispatched to bomb and strafe the Hannover-Bremen-Osnabruck areas and bomb Ahlhorn Airfield and the Mannheim- Kaiserslautern area, all in Germany; they claim 6-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost and 10 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.
Mission 636: 7 of 9 B-17s drop leaflets in France, Germany and the Netherlands during the night.
32 B-24s and C-47s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 B-24 is lost.
SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The last UK-USSR-Italy-UK shuttle mission (Operations FRANTIC) is completed as 72 B-17s and 59 P-51s fly without bombs from Italy to the UK; 2 B-17s and a P-51 abort and a P-51 crashlands SW of Paris; 70 B-17s 57 P-51s land safely in the UK.
Mission 637: 875 B-17s are dispatched bomb 117 flak batteries and installations and an airfield, all in the Netherlands; 815 B-17s attack the primaries and 6 hit Eisenach; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 119 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 15 MIA. Escort is provided by 141 of 153 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).
503 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s escort aircraft of the First Allied Airborne Army making a parachute and glider drop of 20,000 troops into the Netherlands to secure the axis of advance toward the Zuider Zee for the British Second Army, as part of Operation MARKET-GARDEN, 17-30 Sep; troops dropped are the I Airborne Corps, consisting of the British 1 Airborne Division (with Polish Parachute Brigade) and US 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions; the fighters also bomb and strafe flak positions and other ground targets, encountering intense flak and about 30 fighters; they claim 7-0-0 aircraft in the air, 1-0-0 on the ground and the destruction of 107 flak positions; 6 P-47s and 7 P-51s are lost, 3 P-47s and 2 P-51s damaged beyond repair and 41 P-47s and 6 P-51s damaged; 2 pilots are WIA and 11 MIA.
MONDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
1. Mission 639: 248 of 252 B-24s drop supplies to the First Allied Airborne Army in the Netherlands; intense flak downs 7 B-24s, 6 are damaged beyond repair and 154 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 26 WIA and 61 MIA. 500+ P-38s, P-47s and P-51s escort the B-24s, escort C-47s of the First Allied Airborne Army as the second troop echelon is dropped in the Netherlands to participate in heavy fighting around the Arnhem area; 2 fighter groups strafe rail and highway traffic and 50+ fighters bomb flak positions; 100+ Luftwaffe fighters attack; AAF claims 29-0-1 aircraft in the air; 20 fighters are lost, 9 damaged beyond repair and 46 damaged; 1 pilot is KIA and 20 MIA.
2. Mission 640: In the last Operations FRANTIC mission, 107 of 110 B-17s drop 1,248 containers of supplies to Polish forces in Warsaw; 1 B-17 is lost and 7 damaged. Escort is provided by 137 of 150 P-51s (64 P-51s continue to the USSR), they claim 4-0-0 aircraft in the air and 3-0-6 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA).
3. Mission 641: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
TUESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 642: 796 B-17s are dispatched against marshalling yards in W Germany; weather prevents about half from bombing primary targets but most manage to bomb targets of opportunity; 7 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:
1. Of 380 B-17s dispatched, all hit targets of opportunity, i.e., marshalling yards at Koblenz (87), Dillenburg (39), Limburg (37) and Darmstadt (24); bridges at Limburg (35), Koblenz (25) and a bridge over the Rhine River at Koblenz (13); and Wiesbaden (38), Wetzlar (14), the railroad line at Koblenz (13) and Wiesbaden Airfield (12); 4 B-17s are lost and 159 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 37 WIA. Escort is provided by 131 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 3-0-1 aircraft in the air; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA).
2. 416 B-17s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Hamm (186) and Soest (32) and depot at Dortmund/Unna (64); other targets hit are marshalling yards at Raesfeld (11), Wesel (9), Rheine (6) and Munster (3); Dillenburg (11), Emmerich (7), Hamm (5), Osnaburck (2) and others (6); 3 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 120 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 109 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
100 B-17s and 61 P-51s takeoff from bases in the USSR and bomb the marshalling yard at Szolnok, Hungary and continue to bases in Italy.
172 of 182 P-51s supporting the First Allied Airborne Army in the Netherlands engage 100+ fighters, claiming 23-4-14; 6 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 1 pilot is KIA and 6 MIA.
WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 679 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s are dispatched to support the First Allied Airborne Army in the Arnhem and Nijmegen areas of the Netherlands; 644 aircraft strafe and bomb ground targets; intense light flak claims 1 P-51 plus 1 P-38, 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 damaged beyond repair and 3 P-47s and 4 P-51s damaged; air attacks aid ground troops in taking valuable bridges in the area and in the advance toward Arnhem.
THURSDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 644: 486 bombers are dispatched to hit targets in W Germany using PFF methods; 2 bombers are lost:
1. 154 B-17s are dispatched to hit the synthetic oil plant at Ludwigshafen/ Opau (147); 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 54 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 39 P-38s and P-51s; 1 fighter is lost.
2. 153 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Mainz (141); 52 B-17s are damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 34 of 35 P-51s without loss.
3. 179 B-24s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Koblenz (144); 12 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 83 damaged; 15 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 44 of 46 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
90 P-47s and P-51s support the First Allied Airborne Army C-47s dropping supplies and paratroops of the Polish 1st Brigade near Driel, the Netherlands; they encounter about 50 Luftwaffe fighters, claiming 20-0-2; 3 P-47s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; 3 pilots are MIA.
FRIDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 645: 661 bombers are dispatched to hit armoured vehicle and votor vehicle factories at Kassel/ Henschel, Germany bombing by PFF; 453 B-17s are dispatched; 410 hit the primary, 10 hit Wetzlar and 7 hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost and 104 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 27 MIA; 208 of 208 B-24s hit the primary; 3 bombers are damaged. Escort is provided by 268 of 286 P-51s; 1 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
The last Operations FRANTIC missions ends as 84 B-17s and 51 P-51s return to the UK from Italy; the remaining aircraft return on 8 Oct.
77 of 79 P-47s patrol the Arnhem, the Netherlands area; 1 P-47 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair.
108 B-24s fly fuel to France.
SATURDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 559 of 586 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s bomb and strafe flak positions and other ground targets in 2 landing zones in the Nijmegen, the Netherlands area, immediately preceding the arrival of the remainder of the US 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions and the Polish 1st Brigade; the P-38s are flown by Eighth and Ninth AF units; they engage 150+ Luftwaffe fighters; AAF claims 27-2-6 aircraft in the air; 4 P-47s and 10 P-51s are lost, 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are damaged beyond repair and 25 P-47s and 10 P-51s are damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 14 MIA. 162 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN' mission to France delivering fuel.
SUNDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Weather grounds the bombers and fighters. 47 of 53 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN' mission delivering fuel to France.
MONDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 647: 1,306 bombers and 622 fighters are dispatched to attack marshalling yards in W Germany and the synthetic oil plant at Ludwigshafen bombed by PFF; 5 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
1. 534 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Ludwigshafen/Opau oil plant and the marshalling yard at Ludwigshafen (400); 46 others hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 86 damaged; 9 airmen are WIA. Escort is provided by 200 of 216 P-51s without loss.
2. 444 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Frankfurt industrial area (410); 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 41 damaged; 18 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 210 P-38s and P-51s; 2 fighters are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged.
3. 257 of 328 B-24s hit the Koblenz/Mosel and Koblenz/Rhein marshalling yards; 14 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 157 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 0-0-2 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 2 damaged.
176 B-24s on a TRUCKIN' mission fly fuel to France; 1 B-24 is lost.
TUESDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 648: 1,159 bombers and 432 fighters are dispatched to hit rail targets and armored vehicle factories in W Germany; 9 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
1. 422 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard and steel industry at Osnabruck (383); other targets hit are Rheine Airfield (10), Hesepe Airfield (3) and others (4): 2 B-17s are lost and 101 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 134 of 144 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
2. 274 of 317 hit the marshalling yard at Hamm and 1 hits Liesborn; 3 B-24s are lost and 53 damaged; 31 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 138 of 146 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
3. 420 B-17s are dispatched to hit armored vehicle factories at Bremen (381); other targets hit are Bremerhaven (13) and other (1); 4 B-17s are lost and 208 damaged; 10 airmen are WIA and 21 MIA. Escort is provided by 133 of 142 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair.
Mission 649: 3 B-24s and 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
320 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s (P-38s from Ninth Air Force) support the First Allied Airborne Army in the Netherlands; they claim 32-1-8 aircraft in the air; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot MIA), 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 5 P-47s and 4 P-51s are damaged.
165 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN' mission carrying fuel to France.
HQ 361st Fighter Group moves from Bottisham to Little Walden, England.
WEDNESDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 650: 1,192 bombers and 678 fighters are dispatched to hit industrial and transportation targets in W Germany and use PFF methods for all targets; 28 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
1. 421 of 462 B-17s hit a secondary target (Cologne) and 10 others hit Blatzheim; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 165 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA; 7 WIA and 1 MIA. Escort is provided by 221 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft in the air; 3 P-47s are damaged.
2. 415 B-17s are dispatched to hit Ludwigshafen/Opau oil refinery (214) and Mainz (171); 4 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 142 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 19 MIA. Escort is provided by 212 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air; 1 P-47 is damaged.
3. 315 B-24s are dispatched to hit Kassel/Henschel aircraft plant (248); 35 also hit Gottingen; they claim 5-3-0 aircraft; 26 B-24s are lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 41 damaged; 20 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 245 MIA. Escort is provided by 207 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 25-0-6 aircraft in the air and 5-0-1 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA), 1 P-51 damaged beyond repair, and 2 P-38s and 2 P-47s damaged.
Mission 651: 8 of 10 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
163 B-24s on a TRUCKIN' mission carry fuel to France.
THURSDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 652: 1,049 bombers and 724 fighters are dispatched to hit oil and military vehicle factories in C Germany using PFF means; they claim 37-8-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 bombers and 7 fighters are lost:
1. 445 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Magdeburg/Rothensee oil refinery (23); 359 hit the secondary at Magdeburg and 35 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 10-7-5 aircraft; 23 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 126 damaged; 8 airmen are WIA and 208 MIA. Escort is provided by 263 P-38s and P-51s; they claim 24-0-13 aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 5 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.
2. 342 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Merseburg/Leuna oil refinery (301); 10 others hit targets of opportunity; 10 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 251 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 15 WIA and 92 MIA. Escort is provided by 212 of 231 P-51s; they claim 2-1-0 aircraft in the air; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
3. 262 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Kassel/Henschel motor transport plant (243); 1 hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 86 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 171 of 195 P-47s; 1 P-47s is lost and 3 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.
Mission 653: 4 B-24s and 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
194 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN' mission to France with fuel.
The 374th, 375th and 376th Fighter Squadrons, 361st Fighter Group, move from Bottisham to Little Walden, England with P-51s.
FRIDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 654: 5 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets on the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.
SATURDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 655: 834 bombers and 629 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on marshalling yards and airfields in W Germany; 8 bombers are lost:
1. 257 of 266 B-17s hit Bielefeld marshalling yard; 4 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 24 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 28 MIA. Escort is provided by 240 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
2. 255 B-24s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Hamm (206); targets of opportunity are Munster (12) and other (1); 1 B-24 is lost and 32 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 170 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s without loss.
3. 313 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard at Munster (35) and Munster/Handorf Airfield (14); targets of opportunity are Munster (239) and other (1); 3 B-17s are lost and 85 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is provided by 177 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
86 of 97 P-51s fly a sweep over NW Germany; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
116 B-24s fly a TRUCKIN' mission carrying fuel to France.
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
