Mission Target: BREMEN, TOWN |
|||
DATE: | 1943-10-08 | RESULT: | FAIR-GOOD |
CREW LOST: | 72 | AIRCRAFT LOST: | 7 |
MISSION: | 33 | CLS: | 16 |
NOTES
MEMO
08 OCT 43; BREMEM MISSION CHRONOLOGY
CHRONOLOGY
CHRONOLOGIES ARE PLAGUED WITH DISCREPANCIES; THE FOLLOWING ARE TWO
OF THE MORE PERPLEXING.
IN ESTABLISHING DEPARTURE AND RETURN TIMES, THE "J" FORM" IS A
VALUABLE DOCUMENT. IN GENERAL THE PRACTICE FOR HEAVY BOMBERS,
B-17S AND B-24S, WAS TO DISPATCH AT THIRTY SECOND INTERVALS. THE
"J FORM" ON 08 OCT 43 FOR THE 100TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) DOES NOT
FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE. AT 1143 HRS TWO B-17S (423233 AND 4230840)
ARE LISTED AS DEPARTING. IT WILL BE ASSUMED THAT THE FIRST
AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON THE MINUTE AND THE SUCCEEDING ONE THIRTY
SECONDS LATER.
EVEN GREATER DISCREPANCIES, UNDERSTANDABLY, OCCURRED DURING THE
COURSE OF THE MISSIONS. LT F.C. PETERSON OF 425864 REPORTED BOMB
RELEASE AT 1521 HRS, BUT THE LEAD BOMBARDIER'S LOG INDICATES BOMB
RELEASE AT 1525 HRS. WATCHES NOT SYNCHRONIZED, THE STRESS OF COMBAT
ARE FACTORS IN THE MISSION DISCREPANCIES.
IN SUMMARY, THE TIMES NOTED BELOW MUST BE CONSIDERED APPROXIMATE.
THE ORDER OF EVENTS, THAT IS, THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT REFERENCE TO
MISSION PHASE ARE CORRECT. FOLLOWING ARE 100TH STATUS REPORTS FOR 7 OCT
43 @ 2000 HRS (THE EVE OF THE 8 OCT 43 BREMEN MISSION), AND AT THE
END OF THE CHRONOLOGY, THE STATUS REPORT FOR 8 OCT 43 @ 200 HRS.
OCTOBER 7, 1943
2000 HRS GROUP STATUS REPORT
37 COMBAT CREWS ASSIGNED
30 COMBAT CREWS ASSIGNED
43 AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED
43 AIRCRAFT ON HAND
33 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL
8 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL WITHIN 24 HRS
2 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL WITHIN 7 DAYS
OCTOBER 8, 1943
1130 TAXI TIME OF THE FIRST AIRCRAFT
TAKE OFF TIMES
1143 23233 LN-R OUR BABY MAJ GALE CLEVEN
CAPT B.A. DeMARCO
1143:30 230840 LN-0 UNNAMED LT HERBERT G. NASH
1144 23433 LN-W UNNAMED LT ROBERT P. KRAMER
1144:30 230818 LN-S SALVO SAL LT WILLIAM N, McDONALD
1145 230358 LN-X PHARTZAC LT FRANK H. MEADOWS
1145:30 230047 LN-Q SWEATER GIRL LT CHARLES D. WALTS
1146 230487 XR-F TORCHY III F/O OWEN D. ROANE
1146:30 230154 XR-H WAR EAGLE LT ARTHUR H. BECKTOFT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1147 23229 XR-A PASEDENIA NINA LT JOHN K. JUSTICE
1147:30 23393 LD-Y JUST-A-SNAPPIN' MAJ JOHN B. KIDD
CAPT E.E. BLAKELY
1148 230758 LD-W ROSIE'S RIVERTERS LT ROBERT ROSENTHAL
1148:30 23237 LD-R STYMIE LT JOHN F. STEPHENS
1150 230062 LD-O TERRYTEN CAPT C.B. CRUIKSHANK
1150:30 230152 LD-X MESSIE BESSIE LT WALTER U. MORENO
1151 230091 LD-S BLIVIT LT D.L. MINOR
1151:30 25997 EP-F HEAVEN CAN WAIT LT WILLIAM M. BEDDOW
1152 25864 EP-A PICCADILLY LILY CAPT THOMAS E. MURPHY
1152:30 230723 EP-D UNAMED LT HOWARD E. KEEL
1153 23474 EP-B QUEEN BEE LT MAURICE E. BEATTY
1153:30 23386 EP-H MARIE HELENA LT RAYMOND J. GORMLEY
1154 230796 EP-K SUNNY II LT JOHN T. GRIFFIN
1154:30 25957 XR-D HORNY CAPT H.M. HENNINGTON
THIS AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATED AS A SCHEDULED SPARE; IT'S
POSITION IN THE FORMATION IS UNCERTAIN.
1155 230170 XR-G HOT SPIT LT EDWARD G. STORK
THIS AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATES AS A SCHEDULED SPARE; IT'S
POSITION IN THE FORMATION IS UNCERTAIN.
1156 230088 XR-E SQUAWKIN HAWK LT ROBERT N. LOHOF
THIS AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATED AS A SCHEDULED SPARE; IT'S
POSITION IN THE FORMATION IS UNCERTAIN.
1156 23307 EP-N SKIPPER
SCHEDULED TO PARTICIPATE; REPLACED BY 230723, EP-D
1156 230830 EP-N UNNAMED
SCHEDULED TO PARTICIPATE; REPLACED BY 23237, LD-R
1259 23237 LD-R STYMIE
ABORTED; OIL LEAK NO#1 ENGINE
1130 100TH LEAVES THE ENGLISH COAST
1416 230062 LD-O TERRYNTEN
ABORTS; NO#2,3, AND 4 GENERATORS INOPERATIVE
1426 23433 LN-W UNNAMED
ABORTS; LOSS OF OXYGEN TO TOP TURRET
1453 1OOTH CROSSED EUROPEAN COAST 10 MILES NNW OF GRONINGEN;
AGGRESSIVE FIGHTER ATTACKS BEGIN
1508 23386 EP-H MARIE HELENA
MID-AIR COLLISION WITH FW-190 OF 2/JG11 THOUGHT TO HAVE
BEEN FLOWN BY OBLT. ERICH HONDT. THE CREW (10) KIA
1510 230358 LN-X PHARTZAC
FOR YET TO BE DETERMINED REASONS, AIRCRAFT EXPLODED,
KILLING EIGHT(8) OF THE CREW, WHILE TWO (2) WERE
TAKEN PRISONER.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1512 230154 XR-H WAR EAGLE
WAS SEEN GOING DOWN IN FLAMES, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF
ONE (1) CREW MEMBER, THE OTHER NINE (9) WERE CAPTURED.
1515 100TH REACHES THE INITIAL POINT
1515 230330 BT-A BLOOD GUTS & RUST II
THIS 390TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP B-17 WAS LAST SEEN LEAVING
THE FORMATION WITH NO# 2 AND 3 ENGINES ON FIRE.
RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF FOUR (4) CREW MEMBERS, WHILE
SIX (6) WERE CAPTURED.
1516 230318 DI-C DEVIL'S DAUGHTER
THIS 390TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP B-17 WAS LAST SEEN DROPPING
OUT OF THE FORMATION WITH NO# 2 ENGINE ON FIRE. RESULTING
IN THE DEATH OF ONE (1) CREW MEMBER, WHILE THE OTHER NINE
(9) WERE CAPTURED.
1521 25864 EP-A PICCADILLY LILY
DROPPED BOMBS ON THE TARGET
1521 GROUP BECOMES DISORGANIZED
25864 EP-A PICCADILLY LILY
LEFT FORMATION WITH NO# 3 ENGINE ON FIRE AND EXPLODED,
RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF SIX (6) OF THE ELEVEN (11) CREW
MEMBERS, WHILE THE OTHER FIVE (5) WERE CAPTURED.
23393 LD-Y JUST-A-SNAPPIN'
DROPPED OUT OF FORMATION.
230152 LD-X MESSIE BESSIE
DROPPED OUT OF FORMATION.
25957 XR-D HORNY
DROPPED OUT OF FORMATION.
230292 CC-Q UNNAMED
THIS 390TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP B-17 WAS LAST SEEN LEAVING
FORMATION WITH NO#4 ENGINE ON FIRE AND WAS ENCIRCLED BY
ENEMY FIGHTERS, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF SIX (6) CREW
MEMBERS, WHILE FOUR (4) WERE CAPTURED.
1525 100TH REACHES THE RALLY POINT; FIGHTER ATTACKS DECREASE.
1530 230840 LN-O UNNAMED
UNCERTAIN AS TO CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING THIS AIRCRAFT'S
LOSS; RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF FIVE (5) CREW MEMBERS,
WHILE FIVE (5) WERE CAPTURED.
1533 23233 LN-R OUR BABY
UNCERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING THIS AIRCRAFT'S LOSS,
RESULTED IN THE CAPTURE OF ALL CREW MEMBERS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1555 230818 LN-S SALVO SAL
UNCERTAIN AS TO CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING THIS AIRCRAFT'S
LOSS, EXCEPT THAT IT WAS DAMAGED BY FLAK. IT'S LOSS RE-
SULTED IN THE DEATH OF ONE (1) CREW MEMBER WITH THE OTHER
NINE (9) CAPTURED.
1628 100TH LEFT THE EUROPEAN COAST
1700 100TH CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
RETURN OF THE 100TH AIRCRAFT
1712 23474 EP-B QUEEN BEE
RECEIVED "AC" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK.
1715 23229 XR-A PASEDENA NINA
UNDAMAGED
1716 25997 EP-F HEAVEN CAN WAIT
"AC" BATTLE DAMAGE; FLAK AND SMALL CALIBER GUN FIRE.
1717 230047 LN-Q SWEATER GIRL
UNDAMAGED
1718 230723 EP-D UNNAMED
UNDAMAGED
1719 230487 XR-F TORCHY III
UNDAMAGED
1721 230152 LD-X MESSIE BESSIE
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FORM FLAK.
1722 230088 XE-E SQUAWKIN HAWK
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK AND SMALL CALIBER GUN FIRE.
1723 230758 LD-W ROSIE'S RIVETERS
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK.
1725 230796 EP-K SUNNY II
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK, 20mm CANNON AND SMALL
CALIBER GUN FIRE.
1733 230091 LD-S BLIVIT
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK.
1745 25957 XR-D HORNY
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK.
1813 230170 XR-G HOT SPIT
"A" BATTLE DAMAGE FROM FLAK AND SELF-INFLICTED GUN FIRE.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1845 23963 LD-Y JUST-A-SNAPPIN'
CRASH LANDING AT LUDHAM; DECLARED BEYOND REPAIR 10 OCT
43.
2000 GROUP STATUS REPORT
30 COMBAT CREWS ASSIGNED
20 COMBAT CREWS AVAILABLE
36 AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED
36 AIRCRAFT ON HAND
19 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL
0 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL WITHIN 24 HOURS
12 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL WITHIN 7 DAYS
5 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL AFTER 7 DAYS
PHOTOS:

Some of the 100th over Bremen 8 Oct 43. First of two terrible missions the 100th flew in the second week of Oct 43 -- Munster followed on the 10th. On 8 Oct 43 the group lost Lt. Gromley. From the MACR it would appear that this crew was attacked by E/A and crashed about 20 miles SE of Emden, Germany. An eyewitness statement said: ". . .a red nosed FW 190 crashed into Lt Raymond J. Gormley's "MARIE HELENA" and both went down in flames." Also on the Bremen mission the 351st lost the famous "PICCADILLY LILY" and their beloved "Ole Murf," Lt Thomas E. Murphy. (100th Photo Archives)

Crash landing of Maj. John B. "Jack" Kidd after the Bremen mission 8 October 1943

Crash landing of Maj. John B. "Jack" Kidd after the Bremen mission 8 October 1943

Crash landing of Maj. John B. "Jack" Kidd after the Bremen mission (8 October 1943)

"JUST-A-SNAPPIN" home from Bremen, 8 Oct 1943. The crash landing was at Ludham, England. Jack Kidd Collection

"JUST-A-SNAPPIN" home from Bremen, 8 Oct 1943. The crash landing was at Ludham, England. Jack Kidd Collection

"JUST-A-SNAPPIN" home from Bremen, 8 Oct 1943. The crash landing was at Ludham, England (from the collection of Edmund Forkner)

"JUST-A-SNAPPIN" There were over 800 holes in the aircraft. Home from Bremen, 8 Oct 1943. The crash landing was at Ludham, England Kidd Collection

Maintenance personnel inspect "JUST-A-SNAPPIN" home from Bremen, 8 Oct 1943. The crash landing was at Ludham, England Kidd Collection

BREMEN Oct 8, 1943, the start of BLACK WEEK for the 8th Air Force and the 100th Bomb Group. Photo take from HEAVEN CAN WAIT. courtesy of Capt Tong

Bremen Oct 8, 1943, 100th BG lost 7 A/C including Capt Tom Murphy (KIA) in Piccadilly Lily and Maj Gale "Buck" Cleven (POW) photo taken from HEAVEN CAN WAIT, courtesy of Capt Tong