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8th Air Force Europe in November 1944
WEDNESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 696: 324 bombers and 321 fighters are dispatched to attack 2 synthetic oil plants near Gelsenkirchen and a bridge at Rudesheim, Germany; 1 P-51 is lost:
1. 142 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Norstern oil plant at Gelsenkirchen (113); 23 hit the secondary, the Hamm marshalling yard; 1 hits a target of opportunity; 24 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escort is provided by 140 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
2. 143 of 144 B-24s hit the Buer oil plant at Gelsenkirchen; 25 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 109 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
3. 38 B-17s are dispatched to hit a railroad bridge at Rudesheim (13); 24 hit the secondary, a marshalling yard at Koblenz; 7 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 37 of 38 P-51s.
Mission 697: 3 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands during the night.
THURSDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ Eighth AF is ordered to increase the size of the 406th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VIII Fighter Command, the night leaflet squadron, as the liberation of Europe and the conquest of Germany accelerate.
2 missions are flown.
Mission 698: 1,174 bombers and 968 fighters in 5 forces are dispatched to hit synthetic oil installations in C Germany and rail targets at Bielefeld, Germany; an estimated 500 Luftwaffe fighters meet the bombers at Merseburg and the AAF claims 163-40-52 Luftwaffe aircraft; 40 bombers and 16 fighters are lost:
1. 460 B-17s are dispatched to the Leuna oil installation at Merseburg (383) using PFF; targets of opportunity are Halle (23), Wolfenbuttel (13) and other (17); they claim 6-2-2 aircraft; 12 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 339 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 13 WIA and 101 MIA. The Ninth AF provides 31 of 34 P-38s and 433 of 483 P-51s as escort; they claim 46-3-10 aircraft in the air and 25-0-0 on the ground; 8 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
2. 223 B-17s are dispatched to the Leuna oil installation at Merseburg (210) using PFF; 5 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 30-33-25 aircraft; 26 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 152 damaged; 11 airmen are WIA and 260 MIA. Escort is provided by 209 of 245 P-51s; they claim 56-2-15 aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost (5 pilots MIA).
3. 208 B-24s are dispatched to hit Bielefeld; 172 hit the primary, a bridge, 10 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard, and 9 hit the town; all attacks are with GH and visual; 17 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 143 of 146 P-47s; 2 P-47s are lost.
4. 131 of 146 B-24s hit the Rauxel oil installations at Castrop using GH; 1 B-24 is lost and 23 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 37 of 40 P-47s without loss.
5. 137 B-17s are dispatched to hit an oil installation at Sterkrade (107); 20 others hit the secondary, the Rheine marshalling yard; 1 B-17s is lost and 52 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 20 of 20 P-47s without loss.
Mission 699: 3 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets during the night over the Netherlands and Germany.
SATURDAY, 4 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 700: 1,160 bombers and 890 fighters are dispatched in 6 forces to make PFF attacks on the oil industry in W Germany; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:
1. 228 B-17s are dispatched to hit the oil plant at Neunkirchen (151); secondary targets hit are the marshalling yards at Saarbrucken (35) and Neunkirchen (13); 5 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 76 of 77 P-47s and 50 Ninth AF P-51s without loss.
2. 210 of 222 B-24s hit the Misburg oil plant at Hannover; 3 B-24s are lost and 93 damaged; 28 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 371 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
3. 257 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg oil plant at Hamburg (238); targets of opportunity are the aviation industry at Nordholz (9) and other (2); 9 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 124 of 139 P-51s; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
4. 186 of 193 B-17s hit the Rhenania oil plant at Hamburg; 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 61 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 110 P-51s without loss.
5. 91 of 119 B-17s hit the Welhun oil plant at Bottrop; 26 others hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Hamm; 24 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 37 of 40 P-51s; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost.
6. 133 of 141 B-24s hit Gelsenkirchen/Nordstern without loss. Escort is provided by 50 of 54 P-47s.
Mission 701: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
SUNDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 702: 1,272 bombers and 666 fighters in 3 forces attack marshalling yards in W Germany; H2X radar is used by all forces; 12 bombers and 6 fighters are lost.
1. 452 B-17s are dispatched to the marshalling yard at Frankfurt (396); 36 hit the marshalling yard at Hanau and 4 hit other targets; 1 B-17s is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 126 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 3 WIA and MIA. Escort is provided by 206 P-47s and P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA)
2. 454 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard (219) and industrial area (177) at Ludwigshafen; targets of opportunity are the marshalling yard at Kaiserslautern (33) and other (4); 11 B-17s are lost and 298 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 5 WIA and 103 MIA. Escort is provided by 192 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
3. 333 of 366 B-24s hit the secondary target, the Karlsruhe marshalling yard; 12 others hit Landau; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 28 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA and 8 WIA. Escort is provided by 228 P-47s and P-51s; 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots are MIA).
Mission 703: 3 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.
MONDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 704: 1,131 bombers and 802 fighters in 6 forces make PFF attacks on the oil industry in W Germany; 5 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:
1. 291 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg (142) and Rhenania (138) oil refineries at Hamburg; 3 others hit the Lubeck oil refinery at Hamburg; 4 B-17s are lost and 103 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is 238 of 258 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
2. 262 B-17s are dispatched to hit the aviation industry at Neumunster (23); 231 hit the secondary, the Neumunster marshalling yard; 3 others hit targets of opportunity; 10 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escort is 93 of 102 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
3. 215 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Mittelland Canal at Minden; 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 31 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. 43 of 44 P-47s escort without loss.
4. 101 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Bottrop oil refinery; 12 others hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Hamm; 39 B-17s are damaged. 257 of 271 P-51s escort without loss.
5. 143 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Sterkrade oil refinery (134); 1 other hit Vreden; 27 B-24s are damaged. 40 of 43 P-51s escort claiming 0-0-1 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
6. 119 B-17s are dispatched to hit the benzol oil plant at Duisburg (65); 43 hit a target of opportunity, the marshalling yard at Rheydt; 18 B-17s are damaged. 51 of 54 P-47s escort without loss.
30 P-51s of the Scouting Forces patrol the area without loss.
WEDNESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The transfer of training functions from VIII Air Force Composite Command to combat groups is completed; the VIII AF Composite Command ceases to function as personnel are attached to the Air Disarmament Command (Provisional) by the US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSTAF). The airfield at Denain/Prouvy, France is assigned to HQ Eighth AF; this is the first step in establishing an VIII Air Force Services Command Service Center on the European continent so that Eighth AF can service and administer its own aircraft and personnel in the area.
2 missions are flown.
Mission 705: 690 bombers and 890 fighters are dispatched to make a PFF attack on Merseburg oil plants and Rheine marshalling yard; bad weather causes the recall of 350+ bombers; 3 bombers and 11 fighters are lost:
1. 267 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg (193); 2 others hit a target of opportunity; 9 of 12 B-17s fly as a screening force; 3 B-17s are lost and 85 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 27 MIA. Escorting are 752 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-0-1 aircraft in the air and 0-0-1 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 9 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.
2. 145 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Rheine marshalling yard (77); targets of opportunity are Enschede (8), Nordhorn Canal (8) and other (1); 15 B-24s are damaged. Escorting are 36 of 37 P-47s without loss.
3. 266 B-17s dispatched to hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg are recalled due to weather.
11 of 14 P-51s fly a scouting missions without loss.
Mission 706: 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s (2 abort) drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.
THURSDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 707: 1,309 bombers and 738 fighters are dispatched to hit front line strongpoints and tactical targets in the Metz and Thionville, France areas; 4 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:
1. 460 B-17s are dispatched to hit transportation targets at Thionville (47); 276 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; targets of opportunity are Saarlautern (34) and other (3); 4 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 96 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 27 MIA. Escort is provided by 187 of 192 P-51s without loss.
2. 437 B-17s are dispatched to hit transportation targets at Metz (345); 41 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 28 hit Koblenz; 3 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 13 damaged; 19 airment are KIA. Escort is provided by 176 of 184 P-51s without loss.
3. 402 B-24s are dispatched to hit transportation targets at Metz (385); 15 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged. Escort is provided by 113 of 119 P-51s; 3 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.
4. 10 of 10 B-17s fly a screening force mission.
5. 139 P-47s and P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions in the Frankfurt- Lannheim area of Germany; 1 P-47 and 4 P-51s are lost; 4 pilots are MIA.
6. 30 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting forces mission.
Mission 708: 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
The 27th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance) (attached to VIII Air Force Service Command), moves from Mount Farm, England to Denain/Prouvy, France with F-5s.
FRIDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 709: 752 bombers and 808 fighters in 3 forces are dispatched to make PFF attack on airfields in W Germany; 4 bombers are lost.
1. 302 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Langendiebach Airfield at Hanau (229); 61 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Hanau; 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 46 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 261 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 aircraft without loss.
2. 235 B-17s are dispatched to hit Wiesbaden Airfield (105); 73 hit the secondary, Wiesbaden/Halle; 4 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 90 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 142 of 154 P-51s without loss.
3. 203 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Butzweilerhof (96) and Ostheim (97) Airfields at Cologne; 1 B-17s is lost and 95 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 182 of 191 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft without loss.
4. 12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening mission.
5. 79 of 87 P-47s hit communications targets in N and C Germany; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft on the ground.
6. 35 P-51s fly a scouting force mission.
7. 58 of 60 P-51s make strafing runs in Germany.
Mission 711: 6 B_17s and 9 B-24s (1 abort) drop leaflets on the Netherlands and Germany during the night without loss.
SATURDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 712: 482 bombers and 367 fighters make PFF attacks on oil refineries and marshalling yards in W Germany; 1 bomber and 1 fighter are lost:
1. 197 B-17s are sent to hit the Oberlahnstein marshalling yard (146); 24 hit the secondary, the Koblenz marshalling yard; 2 hit a target of opportunity; 1 B-17s is damaged beyond repair and 31 damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escorting are 170 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
2. 129 B-17s are sent to hit the Buer oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen (100); 23 hit the secondary, the Rheine marshalling yard; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 7 airmen are KIA. Escorting are 52 P-51s; 1 is lost.
3. 143 B-24s are sent to hit the Bottrop oil refinery (124); 1 hit Recklinghausen, a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 39 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 98 P-47s and P-51s.
12 of 13 B-17s fly a screening mission.
31 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
SUNDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The operational tour of duty for fighter pilots is set at 270 hours.
MONDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 713: 4 B-17s and 8 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.
WEDNESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 714: 6 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.
THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 715: 1,243 bombers and 282 fighters, along with Ninth AF and Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft, are dispatched to attack tactical targets E of Aachen, Germany in support of the US First and Ninth Armies' offensive; 1 fighter is lost:
1. 486 of 495 B-17s hit transportation targets in the Duren area; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 1 airman is WIA. Escort is 151 of 159 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond repair.
2. 490 of 501 B-17s and 228 of 243 B-24s hit transportation targets in the Eschweiler area; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 6 MIA. Escort is 98 of 107 P-51s; 1 is lost (pilot MIA) and 3 damaged beyond repair.
4 of 4 B-17s fly a screening force mission.
16 of 16 P-51s fly a scouting force mission.
SATURDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 716: 402 fighters (47 P-47s and 355 P-51s) are dispatched to strafe oil storage depots in the Hanau and Ulm areas, airfields at Leipheim and Lechfeld, and miscellaneous ground targets in Germany; 374 actually attack; about 70 Luftwaffe fighters are encountered and the AAF claims 26-2-6 in the air and 69-0-41 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 5 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.
Mission 717: 4 B-24s and 6 B-17s drop leaflets in Belgium, the Netherlands and France during the night.
HQ 92d Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) moves from Sudbury to Bury St Edmunds, England.
MONDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 718: 172 B-17s are sent to hit the Schowen oil plant at Gelsenkirchen (61); 93 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Munster; 25 B-17s are damaged. Escort is 214 P-47s and P-51s; no losses.
Other flights:
12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening mission.
310 P-47s and P-51s make fighter-bomber strikes agains miscellaneous targets in W Germany; 1 P-47 and 7 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.
12 of 12 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
Mission 719: 6 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets on the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.
TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 720: 1,291 bombers and 954 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks using H2X on oil targets in Germany; they claim 73-7-25 Luftwaffe aircraft; 25 bombers and 15 fighters are lost:
1. 421 B-17s are sent to hit the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg (200); targets of opportunity are Meppen (24), Friedburg (21), Hersfeld (12) and Hunfeld (12) marshalling yards, flak gun batteries at Merseburg (12), Leeuwarden Airfield (11), Apolda (10) the Autobahn at Hersfeld (10), Quakenbruck (10), and other (69); the AAF claims 1-0-1 aircraft; 14 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 205 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 16 WIA and 129 MIA. Escort is 268 of 310 P-51s; they claim 63-7-20 aircraft in the air and 3-0-2 on the ground; 9 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
2. 402 B-17s are sent to Sterkrade, Lendorf and Hamburg but hit the secondary, the Osnarbruck marshalling yard (166) and last resort targets, i.e., Giessen marshalling yard (77), Wetzlar (62), Lingen (24), Koblenz marshalling yard (23), Bielefeld marshalling yard (9), and targets of opportunity (35); 7 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 142 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 65 MIA. Escort is 382 of 420 P-51s; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
3. 366 B-24s are sent to hit the Dpag (178) and Rhenania (171) oil plants at Hamburg; 4 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 220 damaged; 19 airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 89 MIA. Escort is 177 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-2 aircraft in the air and 2-0-1 on the ground; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots MIA).
4. 12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening mission.
5. 31 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
Mission 721: 7 B-17s and 5 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
WEDNESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): The 2d and 4th Combat Bombardment Wings (Heavy) of the 3d Bombardment Division are combined to form the Administrative Bombardment Wing (Provisional); this type of unit is expected to be highly suitable for conditions in the Pacific theater where bomb division HQ might be located far from its wing HQ; under this new plan, the administrative wing can absorb many functions of the division HQ; this experiment will be judged acceptable during Feb 45.
THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 722: In Germany, 134 of 155 B-17s and 73 of 78 P-51s make a GH attack on the Norstern benzol manufacturing plant near Gelsenkirchen and the marshalling yard at Duisburg with the loss of 1 P-51 (pilot MIA) and 1 P-51 damaged beyond repair; 13 of 13 B-17s fly a screening mission and 10 of 12 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
SATURDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 723: 1,043 bombers and 965 fighters are dispatched to hit the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg, Germany using H2X and a marshalling yard; 8 bombers and 6 fighters are lost:
1. 671 of 766 hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg and 9 hit targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 197 damaged; 7 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 64 MIA. Escort is 716 of 800 P-51s; they claim 9-0-8 aircraft on the ground; 6 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
2. 254 of 271 B-24s hit the Bingen marshalling yard; 43 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is WIA. Escort is 129 of 130 P-47s.
Mission 724: 7 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), VIII Fighter Command starts daily operations as a screening force for the bombardment divisions; it is assigned the task of protecting the Eighth's primary VHF and fighter-to-bomber communications from interception during assembly; the increase of flak batteries around German military and industrial installations soon compels the 36th to increase radar countermeasures on each mission; the 36th remains on this assignment until the end of war in Europe
SUNDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 725: 1,137 bombers and 732 fighters are dispatched to make attacks on rail viaducts, marshalling yards and oil installations in W Germany; all but 1 attack is with radar; about 550 Luftwaffe fighters intercept and 34 bombers and 9 fighters are lost; the AAF claims 133-14-42 aircraft:
1. 406 B-17s are sent to hit an oil refinery at Misburg (243) and a rail viaduct at Altenbekin (118); 19 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Osnabruck; 3 others hit a target of opportunity; they claim 4-6-7 aircraft; 10 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 160 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 93 MIA. Escorting are 292 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 67-2-11 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair.
2. 350 B-24s are sent to hit the Schidesche rail viaduct at Bielefeld (240) and the Misburg oil refinery (57); targets of opportunity are Hannover marshalling yard (26) and other (1); they claim 12-5-4 aircraft; 21 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 53 damaged; 15 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 196 MIA. Escorting are 208 P-47s and P-1s; they claim 42-0-18 aircraft; 2 P-47s and 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
3. 381 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yard at Hamm (266); other marshalling yards hit are at Gutersloh (37), Bielefeld (36), Herford (24) plus 3 hit other targets; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 86 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 27 MIA. Escorting are 132 of 138 P-51s; they claim 3-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
4. 36 of 36 P-51s fly a scouting mission; they claim 5-1-2 aircraft without loss.
Mission 726: 8 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets on France, the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
MONDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 727: 530 bombers and 770 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on marshalling yards in Germany and fighter-bomber strikes on 4 oil centers in N and C Germany; they claim 102-4-12 aircraft; 15 fighters are lost:
1. 148 of 190 B-17s hit the Bingen marshalling yard; 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 46 bombers are damaged; 2 airmen are WIA. Escorting are 91 of 95 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).
2. 181 of 186 B-17s hit the Offenburg marshalling yard; 1 hits Freiburg; 14 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is WIA. Escorting are 105 of 107 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
3. 144 of 154 B-24s hit the Offenburg marshalling yard; 7 others hit targets of opportunity; 9 B-24s are damaged. Escorting are 45 of 48 P-51s without loss.
4. 460 P-47s and P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions against oil targets in N and C Germany; about 750 Luftwaffe fighters, the largest sighting to date, attack in the Magdeburg-Munster-Hannover areas when the Germans mistake the fighters for a heavy bomber formation; the AAF claims 98-4-11 aircraft in the air and 4-0-1 on the ground; 2 P-47s and 10 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
TUESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): Mission 728: 6 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets on the Netherlands and Germany during the night. The 845th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 489th Bombardment Group (Heavy), departs Halesworth, England for the US; the squadron will transition to B-29s in 1945.
WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 729: 1,077 bombers and 946 fighters are dispatched to make PFF attacks on viaduct rail targets and oil refineries in Germany; 1 bomber is lost:
1. 445 B-17s are sent to hit the oil refinery at Misburg (391); targets of opportunity are Osnabrcuk (36) and others (5); 6 B-17s are damaged. Escorting are 419 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
2. 307 B-24s are sent to hit the Schildesche rail viaduct at Bielefeld (152) and the Altenbeken rail viaduct (144); 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 9 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 261 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
3. 312 B-17s are sent to hit the Hamm marshalling yard (294); 4 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 87 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA. Escorting are 112 of 120 P-51s without loss.
4. 12 of 13 B-17s fly a screen mission and hit a target of opportunity. Escorting are 26 of 32 P-47s without loss.
5. 31 of 34 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
Mission 730: 6 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
HQ 489th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and the 844th, 846th and 847th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) depart Halesworth, England for the US; this B-24 group will become a B-29s outfit that is destined for the Pacific.
THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 2 missions are flown.
Mission 731: 1,281 bombers and 972 fighters are dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants in SE Germany and rail targets; intense accurate flak downs 29 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:
1. 451 B-17s are sent to hit the Zeitz (132) and Bohlen (68) oil plants; 116 hit the secondary, the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg; targets of opportunity are Gotha (22), Gera (17), Rudolstadt (17), Fulda (12), Saalfeld (12), Ohrdruf (10), Meerane (6) and other (9); 11 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 287 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 16 WIA and 100 MIA.
Escorting are 357 of 384 P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 aircraft in the air; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
2. 539 B-17s are sent to hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg (301) and the Lutzkendorf (169) oil plant; targets of opportunity are Zeitz oil plant (19), Weissenfels (9) and other (12); 17 B-17s are lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 325 damaged; 17 airmen are KIA, 42 WIA and 295 MIA. Escorting are 452 P-47s and P-51s; 2 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.
3. 291 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Neunkirchen (180) and Homburg (104). Escorting are 56 of 60 P-47s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA).
4. 30 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission.
Mission 732: 7 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night.
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
