Group Mission 76 - Brunswick, Germany - March 23rd, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
18 B-17's from the "A" Group and 12 B-17's from the "B" group of the 390Th participated in the mission to Brunswick on March 23rd 1944. The Bomb run was made with path finders. The "A" group dropped 180 x 500lbs GP bombs and the "B" group dropped 432 x 100 lbs frag bombs. The 8TH airforce dispatched 768 A/C, in which 707 attacked and 28 went missing. Casualties were 1, with 16 wounded and 288 crewmen missing. The target that day was a aircraft factory, with Munster being a secondary target.
The General Narrative for the "A" Group is as follows.
The 390Th "A" Group formation which was the lead Group of the 13TH "B"Combat Wing took off at 0620 hours- 0636 hours and assembled over the field at 9000 feet. Assembly was completed as scheduled and proceeded to climb to Wing assembly altitiude. Arriving at Colchester 3.5 minutes late and did not locate the low group at that point. Swung around toward Buncher 9, arriving there about one minute early, Contacted the low Group leader on VHF and gave him out heading and altitude, also fired flares at his request. However low Group did not locate out formation. As this left us on individual Group we followed closely behind the 13TH "A" Wing for the remainder of the flight. Primary target was covered and the secondary was bombed on PFF. Bombs were away at 1037 hours. Route back was as briefed and all planes had landed by 1255 hours.
Aircraft Not Attacking: (21) A/C including (2) PFF left the base in formation. A/C 114 crash landed at Horham and was not dispatched Thus (18) A/C not including the PFF were dispatched. All (18) are credited with sorties. All (18) attacked the target. Aircraft lost, none.
General Narrative for the "B" Group is as follows.
The 390TH "B" Group Composite formation which flew high group on the 13TH "A" combat Wing took off at 0605 hours - 0625 hours and assembled above the overcast at 12,000 feet over the field. 9 A/C from the 95TH Group formed the high squadron. Proceeded to Wing assembly altitude arriving at Manningtree on time. Assembly with lead and low groups accomplished without difficulty. Except for a change in the wind that all times to be early, no difficulties were encountered on course into target. Primary was overcast and bombs were dropped on secondary at 1038 hours. Route back was flown as briefed. All planes had landed by 1304 hours.
Aircraft Not Attacking: (13) A/C including one spare left the field in formation shown in diagram. Spare A/C 971 was not needed and returned to base. (12) A/C were dispatched, are credited with sorties and attached the target. Aircraft lost: none.
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"Anoxia Queen" A/C 42-39819 was a B-17G-1-VE (4) engine US Army Airforce bomber in WW2. It was lost on April 13,1944 by German flak outside Ostende, Belgium, along with all ten of her crew in the English Channel/North Sea. This is a complete list of all missions and crews, along with a little history.
Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 6th Mission
Group Mission 77 - La Glaciere, France - March 26th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery". The target were military installations on the Cherbourg peninsula. 21 aircrafts were dispatched, with 14 A/C attacking. Bombing was done visually. Take off was at 1221 - 1234 hours.The alititude of the attack was between 20,000 feet and 21,000 feet. 140 x 500 lbs general purpose bombs were dropped. All planes returned by 1641 hours. The fighter escort was "good". The position of the Wing was low. No A/C were lost and there were no casualties. 10 A/C received minor damage. The 8TH Airforce dispatched 573 planes, 560 A/C attacked and 5 A/C went missing. 4 crewmen were killed, 27 more wounded and 50 missing from that day.
The General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH Group formation took off at 1221 hours - 1234 hours and assembled over the field at 5000 feet. The Group was assembled by 1300 hours and continued to climb on course. There were no Wing formation scheduled.Control points were made on time. At I. P. squadrons peeled off and approached target individually. The lead squadron did not pick target up soon enough to make the run on it, and bombs were not dropped. The high and low squadron did drop. Returned to base was made without difficulty. All planes had landed by 1641 hours. Aircraft not attacking: 21 A/C left base in formation. All 21 were dispatched and are credited with sorties. 7 A/C in lead squadron failed to bomb. 14 A/C attacked. Aircraft lost: none. Moderate to fairly accurate continuous pointed flak was encountered at the target. No enemy aircraft attacked the group.
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The General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH Group formation took off at 1221 hours - 1234 hours and assembled over the field at 5000 feet. The Group was assembled by 1300 hours and continued to climb on course. There were no Wing formation scheduled.Control points were made on time. At I. P. squadrons peeled off and approached target individually. The lead squadron did not pick target up soon enough to make the run on it, and bombs were not dropped. The high and low squadron did drop. Returned to base was made without difficulty. All planes had landed by 1641 hours. Aircraft not attacking: 21 A/C left base in formation. All 21 were dispatched and are credited with sorties. 7 A/C in lead squadron failed to bomb. 14 A/C attacked. Aircraft lost: none. Moderate to fairly accurate continuous pointed flak was encountered at the target. No enemy aircraft attacked the group.
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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 7th Mission
Group Mission 78 - Cazoux, France - March 27th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
The enemy airdrome at Cazoux, France was bombed visually with great effectiveness by the 390TH Bomb Group (H) on March 27, 1944. First phase photo interpretation show a concentration of high explosive bombs on the MPI, dropped by the group. Incendiary bombs dropped by the group hit accurately in the smoke of the MPI.Bombs were dropped by squadrons. No enemy aircraft were seen. Meagre flak from boats in the bay and land installations was encountered. All of our aircrafts returned and there were no personnel casualities. 200 x 500lbs general purpose bombs and 588 x 100 P-47 incendiary bombs were dropped. The fighter escort was "good"
General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH "A" group formation, which was low group in the 13TH Combat Wing, took off at 0951 hours - 1008 hours. Group assembly was on top of overcast at 9000 feet over the field. There was no difficulty in Group assembly. At 1116 hours, lead Group was picked up and Wing assembly accomplished. Division assembly was as planned. Route flown to the target was as briefed, Bombing was visual with bombs away at 1438 hours.Return to base flown as briefed. Aircraft Not Attacking: 21 A/C left the base in formation shown. A/C 819 left formation before reaching the English Coast and was not dispatched. The remaining 20 A/C were dispatched and credited with sorties and attacked. Aircraft lost: None.
General Narrative for "B" Group as follows.
The 390TH "B" Group Composite Group which flew high group in the 13TH Wing took off at 0931 hours - 0944 hours. Six A/C from the 95TH Group formed the low squadron. Group assembly was on top of the overcast at 12,000 feet over the field. No difficulties were met in Group assembly. The lead group for the Wing was located ahead of time and Wing assembly was completed without trouble. Course to target corresponds to that if the 390TH "A" Group. Bombs were away visually at 1440 hours. Return to base flown as briefed. Aircraft Not Attacking: 15 A/C left base in formation. A/C 338 returned before reaching the English Coast and was not dispatched. The remaining 14 A/C were dispatched, are credited with sorties, and attacked the target. Aircraft lost: None.
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The enemy airdrome at Cazoux, France was bombed visually with great effectiveness by the 390TH Bomb Group (H) on March 27, 1944. First phase photo interpretation show a concentration of high explosive bombs on the MPI, dropped by the group. Incendiary bombs dropped by the group hit accurately in the smoke of the MPI.Bombs were dropped by squadrons. No enemy aircraft were seen. Meagre flak from boats in the bay and land installations was encountered. All of our aircrafts returned and there were no personnel casualities. 200 x 500lbs general purpose bombs and 588 x 100 P-47 incendiary bombs were dropped. The fighter escort was "good"
General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH "A" group formation, which was low group in the 13TH Combat Wing, took off at 0951 hours - 1008 hours. Group assembly was on top of overcast at 9000 feet over the field. There was no difficulty in Group assembly. At 1116 hours, lead Group was picked up and Wing assembly accomplished. Division assembly was as planned. Route flown to the target was as briefed, Bombing was visual with bombs away at 1438 hours.Return to base flown as briefed. Aircraft Not Attacking: 21 A/C left the base in formation shown. A/C 819 left formation before reaching the English Coast and was not dispatched. The remaining 20 A/C were dispatched and credited with sorties and attacked. Aircraft lost: None.
General Narrative for "B" Group as follows.
The 390TH "B" Group Composite Group which flew high group in the 13TH Wing took off at 0931 hours - 0944 hours. Six A/C from the 95TH Group formed the low squadron. Group assembly was on top of the overcast at 12,000 feet over the field. No difficulties were met in Group assembly. The lead group for the Wing was located ahead of time and Wing assembly was completed without trouble. Course to target corresponds to that if the 390TH "A" Group. Bombs were away visually at 1440 hours. Return to base flown as briefed. Aircraft Not Attacking: 15 A/C left base in formation. A/C 338 returned before reaching the English Coast and was not dispatched. The remaining 14 A/C were dispatched, are credited with sorties, and attacked the target. Aircraft lost: None.
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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 8th Mission
Group Mission 80 - Ludwigshafen, Germany- April 1st, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
The group was credited with a sortie when low cirrus clouds encountered at the French coast prevented it from continuing to bomb the primary target at Ludwigshafen or to bomb a target of opportunity. Accurate, meagre to moderate flak was encountered from the Ostend airdrome, from the shoreline three miles southwest of Ostend and from northeast of Astounded by the 390TH Group. The five aircraft flying with the 95TH group did not encounter any flak. All our aircraft returned safely, without any personnel casualties. There was no battle damage sustained by the aircraft.
Accurate, meagre to moderate, continuous following flak was encountered from the Ostend airport, and from the shoreline three miles southwest of Ostend. Also, accurate meagre, continuous pointed flak from the northeast of Ostend. 390Th Group flying low squadron of the 95TH "A" Group did not encounter any flak.
At the enemy coast, encountered low cirrus clouds from 14,000 feet to 20,000 feet compelling the 390TH Group to get down to low to fly over enemy territory , and the 95TH "A" Composite Group to climb over the overcast to 26,000 feet. Fighter escort was good.
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The group was credited with a sortie when low cirrus clouds encountered at the French coast prevented it from continuing to bomb the primary target at Ludwigshafen or to bomb a target of opportunity. Accurate, meagre to moderate flak was encountered from the Ostend airdrome, from the shoreline three miles southwest of Ostend and from northeast of Astounded by the 390TH Group. The five aircraft flying with the 95TH group did not encounter any flak. All our aircraft returned safely, without any personnel casualties. There was no battle damage sustained by the aircraft.
Accurate, meagre to moderate, continuous following flak was encountered from the Ostend airport, and from the shoreline three miles southwest of Ostend. Also, accurate meagre, continuous pointed flak from the northeast of Ostend. 390Th Group flying low squadron of the 95TH "A" Group did not encounter any flak.
At the enemy coast, encountered low cirrus clouds from 14,000 feet to 20,000 feet compelling the 390TH Group to get down to low to fly over enemy territory , and the 95TH "A" Composite Group to climb over the overcast to 26,000 feet. Fighter escort was good.
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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 9th Mission
Group Mission 81 - Quackenbruck, Germany- April 8TH, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
After a week of bad weather, following the sorties of April 1st, the 390TH Bomb Group successfully attacked the airdrome at Quackenbruck on April 8th 1944. The phase photo interpretation showed a pattern of high explosive bombs with bursts spreading along a line from the south runway to the MPI and covering the MPI, for the "A" Composite Group. A concentration of high explosive bombs about 400 yards north of the MPI in the workshops and store area was indicated for the "B" Group. No enemy aircraft were observed. No bombers were lost, no personnel injured.
8th AAF Report as follows:
"Very good results" stated the Eighth AAF Narrative of Operations."Hits are seen on hangars, in the barracks area and also on work shops and store buildings in the central part of the built up area. The barracks area was well hit. Ten and possibly eleven twin engine enemy aircraft were seen on the field. Eight of these were damaged or destroyed, and black smoke coming from one of the aircraft shelters indicated that an unseen aircraft may possibly have been hit."
Combat Crew Comments:
Lt. Guthrie: "A cluster of red roofed barracks went up in a cloud of smoke and dust as the bombs started hitting."
Lt. Martin: "When we seen them, we hit them! Today the target was clearly visible and our bombs smacked directly into the center of it. We left it in smoking ruin".
S/Sgt. Murphy: "The flak was intense in spots and the going rough for a while, but our bombs hit and destroyed the airdrome barracks which were our target."
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After a week of bad weather, following the sorties of April 1st, the 390TH Bomb Group successfully attacked the airdrome at Quackenbruck on April 8th 1944. The phase photo interpretation showed a pattern of high explosive bombs with bursts spreading along a line from the south runway to the MPI and covering the MPI, for the "A" Composite Group. A concentration of high explosive bombs about 400 yards north of the MPI in the workshops and store area was indicated for the "B" Group. No enemy aircraft were observed. No bombers were lost, no personnel injured.
8th AAF Report as follows:
"Very good results" stated the Eighth AAF Narrative of Operations."Hits are seen on hangars, in the barracks area and also on work shops and store buildings in the central part of the built up area. The barracks area was well hit. Ten and possibly eleven twin engine enemy aircraft were seen on the field. Eight of these were damaged or destroyed, and black smoke coming from one of the aircraft shelters indicated that an unseen aircraft may possibly have been hit."
Combat Crew Comments:
Lt. Guthrie: "A cluster of red roofed barracks went up in a cloud of smoke and dust as the bombs started hitting."
Lt. Martin: "When we seen them, we hit them! Today the target was clearly visible and our bombs smacked directly into the center of it. We left it in smoking ruin".
S/Sgt. Murphy: "The flak was intense in spots and the going rough for a while, but our bombs hit and destroyed the airdrome barracks which were our target."
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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 10th Mission
Group Mission 83 - Maldegem, Belgium- April 10TH, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
The 390TH "A" Group dispatched 21 aircraft and the 390TH "B" Group dispatched 15 aircraft on April 10th, 1944, when the enemy airdrone at Maldegen was sucessfully bombed. 35 of our bombers attacked the airdrome, a target of opportunity. Overcast prevented bombing the primary or secondary. Bombing was visual.
First phase photo interpretation shows the "A" Groups incendiaries bursting on the south dispersal area among hangers and workshops. The "B" Group IB's bursts were concentrated in the north dispersal area, with some hits on hangers and workshops. No fighters were seen.
Some flak was encountered, but there was no battle damage received, All our aircraft returned safetly, There were no personnel casualities.
Combat Crew Comments: When interviewed in the briefing room on their return, combat crew members stated the following.
Capt. Richter: "We snaked throught the flak fields of France without picking up any concentrated bursts, The nagvigation was topped off as our bombs hit the center of the airdrome, Workshops and hangers went flying in every direction."
Sgt. T. H. Lewis: " Our bombs scored bulls-eye strike on the airdrome hanger. The target was quickly covered with fire and smoke, towering several thousand feet."
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The 390TH "A" Group dispatched 21 aircraft and the 390TH "B" Group dispatched 15 aircraft on April 10th, 1944, when the enemy airdrone at Maldegen was sucessfully bombed. 35 of our bombers attacked the airdrome, a target of opportunity. Overcast prevented bombing the primary or secondary. Bombing was visual.
First phase photo interpretation shows the "A" Groups incendiaries bursting on the south dispersal area among hangers and workshops. The "B" Group IB's bursts were concentrated in the north dispersal area, with some hits on hangers and workshops. No fighters were seen.
Some flak was encountered, but there was no battle damage received, All our aircraft returned safetly, There were no personnel casualities.
Combat Crew Comments: When interviewed in the briefing room on their return, combat crew members stated the following.
Capt. Richter: "We snaked throught the flak fields of France without picking up any concentrated bursts, The nagvigation was topped off as our bombs hit the center of the airdrome, Workshops and hangers went flying in every direction."
Sgt. T. H. Lewis: " Our bombs scored bulls-eye strike on the airdrome hanger. The target was quickly covered with fire and smoke, towering several thousand feet."
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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 11th Mission
Group Mission 84 - Rostock, Germany- April 11TH, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
The 40 aircraft of the 390TH "A" and "B" Groups attacked Rostock on the 11th of April, 1944. First phase photo interpretation stated that, for the "A" Group, the high explosive pattern was not distinguisable in the smoke and clouds. For the "B" Group, it stated that apparently the bombs fell into the existing smoke pattern at the lower end of the bay and built up area.
Clouds and contails prevented the Wing attacking the primary or the second target. Rostock, the last resort target, was bombed visually.
Although many enemy fighter attacks were seen, the hostile aircrafts did not attempt to engage the B-17's of the 390th which were flying a tight defensive formation.
Flak caused 21 of our aircraft to receive battle damage and 4 major battle damage. All of our aircraft returned safetly and there were no personnel casualities.
Eye Witness Accounts.
The following statements were made by combat crew members when interviewed in the briefing room on their return.
Lt Strawn: "Flak knocked out our oxygen system, hydraulic system and one engine, but you should have seen the way we left that target ...... a flaming hell."
Lt. Lipschitz: " I had a ringside seat when a bunch of JU 88's and ME 110's ganged up on the tail of a wing on our right. They swooped in three abreast, firing rockets and 20 mm. It was a terrific attack, but they knocked only one Fort out of formation."
Lt. Fitterman: "15 ME 210's roared out of the clouds over the Baltic, and broke up to attack the bombers in another wing in a group of five. The attacks were hard pressed."
Lt. Pease: "The formation set a beautiful pattern across the target. It was already flaming and smoking violently as our bombs went down concentrated in the smoke and fire."
Sgt. Kaufman: "A great red blaze stood out from the target area as our formation moved up for it's turn."
At 1140 hours at 5445N-1415E, 21 JU 88's were observed flying level and in the opposite direction to the wing ahead in line astern formation attacking with 20mm cannons from broadside level. Enemy aircrafts then circled to the right coming in from 9 o'clock level on the wing formation to the rear. The attacks on this wing were rockets attacks made singly. The enemy aircrafts went out to 1500 yards launching the rockets, then peeling to the left diving under. At 1325 hours near Warnemunde, 12 FW 190's were observed attacking the wing ahead from 11 o'clock to 2 o'clock level. Single attacks were made from line astern formation. Attacks lasted about 5 minutes. meagre to moderate continuous pointed fire was observed on the out lying cities around Rostock.
A Convoy, including 3 large ships, at 5434N - 1100E, headed 200 degrees true course. One crew reported vessels which looked like a pocket battleship in Mecklenburg bay at 1321 hours,escorted by 2 destroyers. 7 or 8 heavy bombers and at least 12 twin engine fighters observed on the ground at Tutow Airfield.
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The 40 aircraft of the 390TH "A" and "B" Groups attacked Rostock on the 11th of April, 1944. First phase photo interpretation stated that, for the "A" Group, the high explosive pattern was not distinguisable in the smoke and clouds. For the "B" Group, it stated that apparently the bombs fell into the existing smoke pattern at the lower end of the bay and built up area.
Clouds and contails prevented the Wing attacking the primary or the second target. Rostock, the last resort target, was bombed visually.
Although many enemy fighter attacks were seen, the hostile aircrafts did not attempt to engage the B-17's of the 390th which were flying a tight defensive formation.
Flak caused 21 of our aircraft to receive battle damage and 4 major battle damage. All of our aircraft returned safetly and there were no personnel casualities.
Eye Witness Accounts.
The following statements were made by combat crew members when interviewed in the briefing room on their return.
Lt Strawn: "Flak knocked out our oxygen system, hydraulic system and one engine, but you should have seen the way we left that target ...... a flaming hell."
Lt. Lipschitz: " I had a ringside seat when a bunch of JU 88's and ME 110's ganged up on the tail of a wing on our right. They swooped in three abreast, firing rockets and 20 mm. It was a terrific attack, but they knocked only one Fort out of formation."
Lt. Fitterman: "15 ME 210's roared out of the clouds over the Baltic, and broke up to attack the bombers in another wing in a group of five. The attacks were hard pressed."
Lt. Pease: "The formation set a beautiful pattern across the target. It was already flaming and smoking violently as our bombs went down concentrated in the smoke and fire."
Sgt. Kaufman: "A great red blaze stood out from the target area as our formation moved up for it's turn."
At 1140 hours at 5445N-1415E, 21 JU 88's were observed flying level and in the opposite direction to the wing ahead in line astern formation attacking with 20mm cannons from broadside level. Enemy aircrafts then circled to the right coming in from 9 o'clock level on the wing formation to the rear. The attacks on this wing were rockets attacks made singly. The enemy aircrafts went out to 1500 yards launching the rockets, then peeling to the left diving under. At 1325 hours near Warnemunde, 12 FW 190's were observed attacking the wing ahead from 11 o'clock to 2 o'clock level. Single attacks were made from line astern formation. Attacks lasted about 5 minutes. meagre to moderate continuous pointed fire was observed on the out lying cities around Rostock.
A Convoy, including 3 large ships, at 5434N - 1100E, headed 200 degrees true course. One crew reported vessels which looked like a pocket battleship in Mecklenburg bay at 1321 hours,escorted by 2 destroyers. 7 or 8 heavy bombers and at least 12 twin engine fighters observed on the ground at Tutow Airfield.
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