Mission 25
Mission Summaries > February 1944
SUNDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):
Mission 226:
The Eighth Air Force begins "Big
Week," attacks on German aircraft plants and airfields. For the first
time, over 1,000 bombers are dispatched; 21 bombers and 4 fighters are lost
hitting 3 areas in Germany, i.e.:
417 B-17s are dispatched to Leipzig/Mockau
Airfield, and aviation industry targets at Heiterblick and Abtnaundorf; 239 hit
the primary targets, 37 hit Bernburg, 44 hit Oschersleben and 20 hit other
targets of opportunity; they claim 14-5-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 7 B-17s are lost,
1 damaged beyond repair and 161 damaged; casualties are 7 KIA, 17 WIA and 72
MIA.
314 B-17s are dispatched to the Tutow Airfield;
105 hit the primary and immediate area, 76 hit Rostock and 115 hit other
targets of opportunity; they claim 15-15-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-17s are
lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 37 damaged; casualties are 3 KIA and 60 MIA.
272 B-24s are dispatched to aviation industry targets at Brunswick, Wilhelmitor
and Neupetritor; 76 hit the primary, 87 hit Gotha, 13 hit
Oschersleben, 58 hit Helmstedt and 10 hit other targets of opportunity; they
claim 36-13-13 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair
and 37 damaged; casualties are 10 KIA, 10 WIA and 77 MIA.
Missions 1 and 3 above are escorted by 94
P-38s, 668 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 73 Eighth and Ninth Air Force
P-51s; they claim 61-7-37 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38, 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 is
lost, 2 P-47s are damaged beyond repair and 4 aircraft are damaged; casualties
are 4 MIA.
Mission 227:
4 of 5 B-17s drop 200 bundles of leaflets on
Tours, Nantes, Brest and Lorient, France at 2123-2200 hours without loss.
Target: Brunswick, Germany - Muhlenbau V Industrie AG at Braunschweig-Neupetritor Airfield | ||
8th Air Force F.O. No: | 226 | |
Aircraft Taking Off: | 36 | |
Aircraft Dispatched: | 34 | |
Aircraft Aborts: | 0 | |
Aircraft Over Primary: | 34 | |
Aircraft Over Secondary: | 0 | |
Aircraft Over Last Resort: | 0 | |
Aircraft Bomb Load: | 10 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs | |
Group Bomb Load: | 340 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs | |
Results: | Excellent | |
Tactical Mission Report: | Mission Data: Date: 20 Feb 44 Primary Target: Bf 110 Aircraft Factory, Braunschweig-Neupetritor Airfield Secondary Target: Aircraft Engine Factory, Braunschweig-Waggum Airfield Last Resort Target: Any positively identified German Airfield Units Participating: Narrative: Acft Scheduled: 36 Acft Airborne: 36 Acft Dispatched: 34 Acft Abortive: 0 Acft Over Target: 34 Acft Returned: 31 Two (2) | |
Losses: MACR #2438 - Aircraft: 42-64439; Aircraft Name: Bullet Serenade; 1st Pilot: 2nd Lt Robert Q. Kiser; Casualties: 9 KIA; Reason For Loss: Shot down by fighters after leaving the target area. MACR #2439 - Aircraft: 42-7569, Aircraft Name: Sky Wolf; 1st Pilot: 1st Lt Stanley P. Neal; Casualties: 9 KIA; Reason For Loss: Shot down by fighters after leaving the target area. MACR # 2440 - Aircraft: 42-64434, Aircraft Name: Georgia Peach; 1st Pilot: 1st Lt Alvin L. Owen, Jr; Casualties: 9 POW; Reason for Loss: Shot down by fighters after leaving the target area. | ||
Note: | ||
