Mission 3

Mission Summaries > Decenber 1943

MONDAY, 20 DECEMBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown:

Mission 159:

The port area at Bremen, Germany is hit along with Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau Werks. 357 of 407 B-17's, 103 of 127 B-24's and 12 of 12 PFF aircraft hit the target at 1142-1214 hours; they claim 21-14-23 Luftwaffe aircraft; 21 B-17's and 6* B-24's are lost; 3 B-17's are damaged beyond repair; 213 B-17's and 34 B-24's are damaged; casualties are 9 KIA, 41 WIA and 270 MIA.

Window-metal foil strips which, when dropped from an airplane, provide an echo which confuses radar locating equipment is used for the first time on an Eighth Air Force mission. This mission is escorted by 26 P-38's, 418 P-47's and 47 Ninth Air Force P-51's; they claim 19-3-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47's and 4 P-51's are lost; 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 5 P-47's are damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 5 MIA. Twin-engine, rocket-firing Luftwaffe fighters attack under protection of single engine airplanes.

* 445th Bomb Group suffers its first combat loss - 2Lt Milton 'Buck' Patterson's aircraft is downed by fighters.

Mission 160:

5 B-17's drop 1 million leaflets on Lille and Lens, France and Ghent and Brussels, Belgium at 2005-2015 hours; no losses.

Target: Bremen, Germany - Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau Werks
8th Bomber Cmd F.O. No:	159
Aircraft Taking Off:	25
Aircraft Dispatched:	25
Aircraft Aborts:	3
Aircraft Over Primary:	22
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	8 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs 16 x 100 lb. AN-M41 Incendiary bombs
Group Bomb Load:	176 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs 352 x 100 lb. AN-M41 Incendiary bombs
Results:	Good
Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: Date: Primary Target: Secondary Target: Last Resort Target: Units Participating: Narrative: 123 aircraft were dispatched in 3 combat wing formations of which 103 attacked. Bombing was planned on using the smoke markers of the 3rd Bomb Division. Combat Wing and Division Assembly was done with difficulty because of cloud layers at assembly altitude and intense contrails. These conditions caused one of the new Groups to fail to make contact with the Conbat Wing or Division and its formation returned to their base. Towering clouds forced formations to 26,000 feet over the North Sea and to 27,500 feet over Holland. The target area, however, was found to be clear and visual bombing was accomplished. Briefed MPI's were obscured by smoke of previous bombings and ground haze with smoke screens. A good pattern was laid down on the target. Intense flak was encountered at the target. Fighter support was excellent and enemy fighter opposition was meager. One enemy aircraft was destroyed, one probable, and one damaged with seven losses of our aircraft.
Losses: MACR #6343 - Aircraft: 42-7534; Pilot: 2nd Lt. Milton A. Patterson; Casualties: 11 KIA, Reason: Shot down by Fw 190 during the return flight.
Note: The 445th Group suffered 16 Cat A damaged aircraft.

Bremen's Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau Werks