Mission 83

Mission Summaries > May 1944

MONDAY, 29 MAY 1944

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO)

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 379:

993 bombers and 673 fighters are dispatched to attack aircraft plants and oil installations in Germany and Poland; they claim 117-38-49 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 bombers and 10 fighters are lost:

443 B-24s are dispatched to hit an oil terminal at Pölitz (224 bomb) and airfield and aircraft assembly plant at Tutow (167 bomb); 14 hit Rendsburg Airfield, 9 hit Misdroy and 1 hits Schwerin; they claim 29-15-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 17 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 150 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 10 WIA and 161 MIA.

251 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Leipzig / Mockau (149 bomb) and Leipzig / Heiterblick (50 bomb); 4 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 11-4-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 9 B-17s are lost and 80 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 90 MIA.

299 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Krzesinki (91 bomb) and Posen (58 bomb), Poland and Sorau (52 bomb) and Cottbus (48 bomb), Germany; 19 others hit Schneidemuhl Airfield and 2 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 22-18-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-17s are lost and 97 damaged; 5 airmen are WIA and 67 MIA.

Escort is provided by 184 P-38s, 187 P-47s and 302 P-51s; the P-38s claim none and none are lost; the P-47s claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of 4 P-47s (3 pilots are MIA) and 3 damaged; the P-52s claim 38-1-4 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 16-0-15 on the ground with the loss of 6 P-51s (5 pilots are MIA) and 6 damaged. 592 Ninth Air Force fighters also support the mission; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft and lose 2 fighters.

23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 is lost.

Target: Pölitz, Germany - Oil Terminal
8th Air Force Mission No:	379
Aircraft Taking Off:	14
Aircraft Dispatched:	14
Aircraft Aborts:	0
Aircraft Over Primary:	0
Aircraft Over Secondary:	0
Aircraft Over Last Resort:	14
Aircraft Bomb Load:	10 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Group Bomb Load:	140 x 500 lb. AN-M43 General Purpose bombs
Results:	Unobserved
Tactical Mission Report:	445th Bomb Group Mission Report 1. A/C Scheduled ----------------------- 14 A/C Airborne ------------------------- 14 A/C Dispatched ---------------------- 14 A/C Abortive ------------------------- 0 A/C Over Target --------------------- 14 A/C Returned ------------------------ 13 2. Assembly: 3. Route In: 4. Bomb Run: 5. Route Out: 6. Enemy Fighters: 7. Fighter Support: 8. Flak:
Losses: MACR #5230 - Aircraft: 42-110065 , Aircraft Name: un-named; 1st Pilot: 1st Lt. Edwin R. Peterson; Casualties: 10 INT; Reason for loss: Probable #1 engine mechanical failure (prop feathered), firing green flares and indicated he was headed for Sweden.
Note: From the tactical mission report the reason for the two targets becomes known. At the Combat Wing IP (Initial Point), the three Groups making up the 2nd Bomb Wing (389th, 445th, and 453rd) was on a collision course with units of the 14th Bomb Wing (44th, 392nd, and 492nd). The 445th formation was split with one section of planes attached to the 389th as their High Right section; and another 445th section flying with the 453rd as their High Right section. The 389th and 445th bombed the primary (Pölitz) while the 445th, not bombing with the 453rd, bombed the Rendsburg airfield as a last resort.

Pölitz, Germany - Oil Terminal