Mission 6

Mission Summaries > Decenber 1943

THURSDAY, 30 DECEMBER 1943
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown:

Mission 169:

The port area and oil refinery at Ludwigshafen, Germany are hit at 1156-1300 hours. 502 of 530 B-17's, 145 of 168 B-24's, and 11 of 12 PFF aircraft attack the target; they claim 12-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 14 B-17's and 9 B-24's are lost, 4 B-17's and 1 B-24 are damaged beyond repair and 106 B-17's and 11 B-24's are damaged; casualties are 11 KIA, 19 WIA and 200 MIA. The mission is escorted by 79 P-38's, 463 P-47's and 41 Ninth Air Force P-51's; they claim 8-3-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 11 P-47's and 2 P-51's are lost, 1 P-47 is damaged beyond repair and 5 P-47's are damaged; casualties are 12 MIA.

Mission 170:

5 B-17's drop 1 million leaflets on Antwerp, Ghent, Lens, Belgium and Cambrai, France at 2319-2340 hours; no losses.

Target: Ludwigshafen, Germany - Port Area and Oil Refinery
8th Bomber Cmd F.O. No:	169
Aircraft Taking Off:	23
Aircraft Dispatched:	23
Aircraft Aborts:	4
Aircraft Over Primary:	19
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	0
Aircraft Bomb Load:	40 x 100 lb. AN-M41 Incendiary bombs
Group Bomb Load:	760 x 100 lb. AN-M41 Incendiary bombs
Results:	Unobserved, 10/10th's cloud cover
Tactical Mission Report:	Mission Data: Date: Primary Target: Secondary Target: Last Resort Target: Units Participating: Narrative: One hundred sixty-eight aircraft were dispatched in three combat wing formations. The 20th Wing would bomb on the PFF leads of the 1st Bomb Division B-17's. The 14th and 2nd Wings would bomb on the PFF leads of the 3rd Division B-17's. All Groups bombed on clearly visible smoke streamers with unobserved results. Moderate but inaccurate flak was encountered due to the use of "Window". Enemy air opposition was moderate at times when fighter support was not present. Between 10-50 enemy aircraft began attacks when the Spitfire escort left the formation about 30 minutes before the target. The main attacks continued to the rally point and a few while the formation was enroute home over the enemy coast.
Losses: MACR #4132; Aircraft: 42-7508, Name: Liberty Bell; 1st Pilot: 2nd Lt. Oliver J. Saunders, Jr., Casualties: 6 KIA, 4 POW; Reason for Loss: Shot down by fighters. MACR #5210; Aircraft: 41-29123, Name: Big Joe; 1st Pilot: F/O William P. Kane; Casualties: 4 KIA, 6 RTD; Reason for the Loss: Damaged by flak, ditched 6 miles off Beachy Head and picked up by fishing boat.
Note:

Ludwigshafen Port Area and Oil Refinery