Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
Mission 975: 401 B-17s are dispatched to drop food supplies in the Netherlands at Schipol (250) and Alkmaar (20) Airfields, Vogelenznag (40), Hilversum (20), Utrecht (59) and targets of opportunity (4); 4 B-17s are damaged by 20mm fire which ceases as soon as a green flare is fired; a total of 767.1 tons of food are dropped.
Mission 976: 8 B-17s, escorted by 9 P-51s, drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during daylight hours. | Source: THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History, |
Mission Reports
34th BG Mission Report - Mission #172 Chowhound #2
| source: 34th Bomb Group Mission List compiled by Gary L. Ferrell http://valortovictory.tripod.com |
Non-Combat Accident Reports
Aircraft: B-17G (#43-37523). Organization: 560BS / 388BG of Knettishall, Suffolk. Pilot: Melehes, John A. Notes: mid air collision. Location: Sudbury/ nr England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17G (#43-37623). Organization: 413BS / 96BG of Snetterton Heath, Norfolk. Pilot: Patchen, Howard W. Notes: mid air collision. Location: Lowestoft/NW England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17G (#43-38301). Organization: 751BS / 457BG of Glatton, Huntingdonshire. Pilot: Koch, Lorenz M. Notes: landing accident. Location: Glatton, Huntingdonshire England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17G (#43-38684). Organization: 326BS / 92BG of Podington, Bedforshire. Pilot: Magnello, Fred (NMI). Notes: landing accident. Location: Podington, Bedforshire England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17G (#44-8589). Organization: 526BS / 379BG of Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire. Pilot: Grimwood, David C. Notes: taxiing accident. Location: Kimbolton, Huntingdonshire England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-24H (#41-29386). Organization: 310FRS / 302TpW of Burtonwood, Lancashire. Pilot: Kellogg, William W. Notes: crash landing engine failure. Location: Strangford/ 3mi W Ireland. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-24J (#42-51939). Organization: 755BS / 458BG of Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk. Pilot: Dye, L A Jr. Notes: bailed out due to weather. Location: Oxford/ 12mi WNW England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: C-64A (#43-35369). Organization: / 1SAD of Troston, Suffolk. Pilot: Bauer, George R. Notes: unknown. Location: Troston (Sta 595) England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 1 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47D (#42-74669W). Organization: 61FS / 56FG of Boxted, Essex. Pilot: Hard, Walter J. Notes: crash belly landing due to mechanical failure. Location: RAF Bradwell Bay England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47M (#44-21210). Organization: 62FS / 56FG of Boxted, Essex. Pilot: Geren, Lloyd F. Notes: taxiing accident. Location: Boxted, Essex England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47M (#44-21228). Organization: 62FS / 56FG of Boxted, Essex. Pilot: Jones, Robert B Jr. Notes: taxiing accident. Location: Boxted, Essex England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51C (#42-103363). Organization: 352FS / 353FG of Raydon, Suffolk. Pilot: Pletz, LeRoy O. Notes: crash landing engine failure. Location: Radleigh/ 1 1/2mi NE England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-51D15 (#44-15011). Organization: 361FS / 356FG of Martlesham Heath, Suffolk. Pilot: Cochran, Paul H Jr. Notes: ground loop due to engine failure. Location: Martlesham Heath, Suffolk England. Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 4 source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ |
Mission Stats (Targets, Aircraft, Casualties, etc.)
Mission "8th AF 975" Supply Mission May 02, 1945Primary source for mission statistics: Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A. Freeman |   | Aircraft Sent | Aircraft Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy Aircraft X-P-D | Enemy Aircraft (on gnd) X-P-D | USAAF Aircraft X-E-D | USAAF Personnel KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | 401 | 393 | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-4 | 0-0-0 | 767.1 tons of food 4x 385BG aircraft damaged by ground fire |   | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | | Aircraft Groups Click blue links for info on the group. This will open a new tab in your browser.
| | Aircraft Losses Click blue links for info on the MIA aircraft (if known). This will open a new tab in your browser. | | |
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| Aircraft Sent | Aircraft Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy Aircraft X-P-D | Enemy Aircraft (on gnd) X-P-D | USAAF Aircraft X-E-D | USAAF Personnel KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | 12 | 12 | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | |   | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | CZECHOSLOVAKIA Reconnaissance | Skywave | 1 A/C | | CONTINENT / UK Reconnaissance | weather | 4 A/C | | AZORES/ATLANTIC/UK Reconnaissance | weather | 4 A/C | | Air Sea Rescue | | 3 A/C | |
| Aircraft Groups Click blue links for info on the group. This will open a new tab in your browser.
| | Aircraft Losses Click blue links for info on the MIA aircraft (if known). This will open a new tab in your browser. | | |
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