March
8, 1944 24th victory
Archives and notes on my searches concerning this date & victory
March
8, 1944 24th victory
Archives and notes on my searches concerning this date & victory
Boeing B-17G-30-DL "Sleepy Time Gal" Serial 42-38211
of the 452 BG / 731 BS piloted by 2nd Lt. Theodore J. MacDonald
Look at the shell mark 2 on the top side of "Sleepy Time Gal".
As this very interesting photo show, the pilot, Lt.Theodore J. MacDonald,
belly landed the B-17 with its complete load of bombs 1.
This heroe had no other choice as he had given his parachute to another member of the crew !
serial number
plane type or name
squadron
code
reason
mission lost on
pilot / crew
42-38211
B-17G-30-DL
"Sleepy Time Gal"
452 BG
731 BS
fighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
Nienburg
25 km North/West of Wunstorf 415 / I112nd Lt. Theodore J. MacDonald P POW,
2nd Lt. John T. Godsey CP KIA,
2nd Lt. Jacob Moskowitz N POW,
2nd Lt. Anton L. Harris B KIA,
T/Sgt Mearl I. Cline TTG POW,
T/Sgt Wilburn C. Rowden R POW,
Sgt Charles R. Batdorf RWG POW,
Sgt Wendell E. Dowell LWG POW,
Sgt William J. Valigura, Jr. BTG POW,
Sgt Robert L. Allen TG POW,
MACR 3193
"Sleepy Time Gal" is undoubtly Heinz Knoke's victim on March 8, 1944.
The mission of the USAAF
A direct proof : the amazing testimony of Sgt william Valigura Jr.
(ball turret gunner of "Sleepy Time Gal") who encountered Heinz Knoke on March 8, 1944 !
Searches concerning this victory :
COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCESWEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS :
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force) :
Mission 252:
The primary target is the ball bearing plant at Erkner, a suburb of Berlin; enemy opposition is fierce and 37 bombers and 16 fighters are lost;
320 of 414 B-17s and 150 of 209 B-24s dispatched hit the primary;
36 B-17s hit Wildau and targets of opportunity;
33 B-24s hit Berlin and targets of opportunity;
the bombers claim 63-17-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 28 B-17s and 9 B-24s are lost, 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; casualties are 4 KIA, 14 WIA and 364 MIA.
Escort is provided by 104 P-38s, 613 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 174 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; claims/losses are:
1. P-38s claim 9-2-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-38s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 2 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 4 MIA.
2. P-47s claim 49-6-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 P-47s are lost, 13 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA.
3. P-51s claim 29-4-9 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; casualties are 4 MIA.
An additional 8-4-7 Luftwaffe aircraft are claimed on the ground.
B-17 declared lost on March 8, 1944 (current result of my works) :
Sources : Book "The B-17 flying Fortress Story"
Book "Tales to noses over Berlin"
& MACR & AFHRA microfilm
serial number
plane type or name
squadron
code
reason
mission lost on
pilot / crew
42-5950
B-17F-35-VE
"My Devotion" or "Peter's Pride"94 BG
410 BSGL-P
flak
dropped behind formation then fighters north of Brunswick > Zuider ZeeBerlin.
Crash Location
Wieste (near Plantlünne)Lt. Babington P,
2Lt Norbey A. Overton CP,
2Lt Nicholas L. Papernik N,
2Lt William Davis B,
T/Sgt Michael F. Rivera RO,
T/Sgt Roy Hatcher TT,
S/Sgt Billie B. Ivy BT,
Sgt Allan V. Kangas RW,
Sgt Rodney C. Shogren LW,
Sgt John E. Liberg TG,
10POW,
MACR 299742-30340
B-17F-100-BO
"Screamin' Red Ass"388 BG
563 BSMe 109
Berlin.
Crash Location
near Magdeburg2nd Lt. A Amman P KIA,
T/Sgt Quick POW,
9KIA, 1POW,
MACR 307942-30713
B-17F-115-BO "Phyllis Marie"
390 BG
568 BSBI-G
fighters
FW 190
round
13.30
(german time)Berlin.
Crash Location near Werben 11km from Cottbus2nd Lt. M Quakenbush, 10POW,
MACR 298742-30829
B-17F-120-BO
"The Princess Pat"388 BG
563 BShit over Celle by fighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
Nöpke
15 km North of Wunstorf 415 / I122nd Lt. M Moran P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 308142-30847
B-17F-125-BO
"Pegasus"96 BG
413 BSMZ-N
fighter
frontal
attack then
explodedBerlin.
Crash Location
Vechta1st Lt. Don Kasch P KIA,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 1389 / 342342-31141
B-17G-5-BO
94 BG
332 BSXM-N
fighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
Last seen in vicinity of 5235-0850 at 15.20 hours at 8,000 feet, attempting to keep up with formation on a heading of 270 degrees.
Ditched Channel1Lt Frank P. Scott P,
2Lt William L. Boak CP,
2Lt Willard S. Sayles N,
F/O Mario Lagattollia B,
T/Sgt Raymond P. Soucy RO,
T/Sgt Charles E. Cummings Jr. TT,
S/Sgt James T. Bell BT,
S/Sgt William C. Rasnake RW,
S/Sgt John G. Bleau LW,
S/Sgt Phillip J. Lorbach TG KIA
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 297642-31214
B-17G-5-BO
"Return Engagement"388 BG
560 BSfighter
over HannoverBerlin.
Crash Location
Söhlingen
65 km North of Wunstorf 415 / G122nd Lt. H Pou P,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 308542-31331
B-17G-10-BO
"Tangerine"
? "Mon Tete Rouge" ?452 BG
731 BSHit by 20mm head on attack,
10' later achieved by 4 fightersBerlin.
Crash Location
Nienburg
25 km North/West of Wunstorf 415 / I112nd Lt. Glen Butterworth P,
Fred Thibedeau R POW,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 319042-31354
B-17G-15-BO
452 BG
731 BSFW 190
then
Me 109Berlin.
Crash Location
German airfield at Zerbst
60 miles southwest of Berlin2nd Lt. D Sorenson P,
William Bader B POW,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 319142-31403
B-17G-15-BO
96 BG
413 BSMZ-Y
FW 190 frontal passes
Berlin.
Crash Location
Hobeck
near
Magdeburg2nd Lt. Clark Ross P,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 342442-31471
B-17G-20-BO
"Doolittle's Destroyers"303 BG
360 BSflak
Berlin.
Crash Location
Brandenburg1st Lt. L McGarth P,
10POW,
MACR 290842-31488
B-17G-20-BO
"Shade Ruff"401 BG
614 BSIW-D
?
then flak near MeppinBerlin.
Crash Location
Lingen2nd Lt. Dale Peterson P,
10POW,
MACR 291142-31576
B-17G-20-BO
96 BG
339 BSQJ-G
hit near Magdeburg by fighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
helmstedt1st Lt. H Lemanski P,
10POW,
MACR 342642-31716
B-17G-25-BO
96 BG
413 BSMZ-P
fighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
Burg2nd Lt. J Swendiman P,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 342842-31717
B-17G-25-BO
"Hells Bells"390 BG
568 BSBI-A
fighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
Koerbelitz1st Lt. P Quillin P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 298842-31912
B-17G-30-BO
"Myasam Dragon"96 BG
337 BSAW-L
fighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
Dummer Lake towards a nearby airfieldCpt N Thomas P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 342942-37812
B-17G-15-DL
"Heavenly Body"390 BG
570 BSDI-O
flak
+
fightersBerlin.
About 14.10hrs
Crash Location
Poucher Forest 9km southeast from BitterfeldLt. S Branum P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 299042-37819
B-17G-15-DL
388 BG
560 BSfighters
the crew bailed out over Helmstedt airfieldBerlin.
Crash Location
Hannover1st Lt. L Tobias P KIA,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 308742-37929
B-17G-20-DL
"Diana"95 BG
335 BSOE-Y
?
Berlin.
Crash Location
BrandenburgLt. F Fagan P,
10POW,
MACR 2983
42-37954
B-17G-20-DL
"Paper Doll"452 BG
729 BSfighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
? Toeppel ?
southeast of Magdeburg1st Lt. Henry Wilson P,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 319242-38029
B-17G-25-DL
381 BG
532 BSVE-M
fighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
Lettele (Hol)Lt. T Pirtle P,
10POW,
MACR 300242-38138
B-17G-30-DL
388 BG
560 BSCollision with enemy fighter FW190
Exploded over CelleBerlin.
Crash Location
Nienburg
25 km North/West of Wunstorf 415 / I111st Lt. W Lentz P,
5KIA, 5POW,
MACR 3090
42-38211
B-17G-30-DL
"Sleepy Time Gal"
452 BG
731 BS
fighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
Nienburg
25 km North/West of Wunstorf 415 / I112nd Lt. Theodore J. MacDonald P POW,
2nd Lt. John T. Godsey CP KIA,
2nd Lt. Jacob Moskowitz N POW,
2nd Lt. Anton L. Harris B KIA,
T/Sgt Mearl I. Cline TTG POW,
T/Sgt Wilburn C. Rowden R POW,
Sgt Charles R. Batdorf RWG POW,
Sgt Wendell E. Dowell LWG POW,
Sgt William J. Valigura, Jr. BTG POW,
Sgt Robert L. Allen TG POW,
MACR 319342-39892
B-17G-5-VE
91 BG
401 BSLL-B
fighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
Einwinkel2nd Lt. C Williams P,
4KIA, 6POW,
MACR 322342-39988
B-17G-10-VE
"The Iron Ass"96 BG
339 BSQJ-A
FW 190s
Berlin.
Crash Location
BerlinGeorge Pond P,
10POW,
MACR 343042-40056
B-17G-10-VE
"Holy Terror III +
Katie's Boys"100 BG
351 BSEP-F
fighter
Fw. Werner Rubel
of
6./JG53Berlin.
Crash Location
Hohengoersdorf
(35 miles South of Berlin)2nd Lt. Norman L. Chapman P,
2nd Lt. Rex M. Ellis CP,
2nd Lt. Glenn G. Lindbom N,
2nd Lt. Wilson D. Clark B,
S/Sgt Milton Sharf R,
S/Sgt George W. Silvermann TTE,
Sgt Durward E. Hutchings BTG,
Sgt Leon E. Hill LWG,
Sgt Frank A. Yzenas RWG,
Sgt George E. Dobbs TG,
10POW,
MACR 303242-97525
B-17G-20-DL
"Invictus"452 BG
730 BSfighter
Berlin.
Crash Location
Rothensee2nd Lt. F Stephens P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 3195
The report USAAF of the mission #252 declares 28 B-17 lost on march 8, 1944, Book "Tales to noses over Berlin" give 27 B-17. 27 B-17 are in the table.
Maybe the difference of one plane explains by the confusion for B-17 #42-40056 of the name of two aircrafts, " Katie ", usual plane of Lt. Chapman's crew, and " Holy Terror III ", usual name of #42-40056 allocated to this crew on March 8, 1944 and renamed for the occasion "Katie's Boys ". (Hypothesis by Andreas Trotz).
- - - Very special thanks to William J. Valigura, Jr. for his precious testimony - - -
Description of this victory by Heinz Knoke and different information :
Heinz Knoke Informations
Personal comments
Source I flew for the f... page 148
Date march 8, 1944
In the original German edition of his book, Heinz Knoke claimed 2 victories on March 8, 1944. The last English edition of "I flew for the fuhrer", reshaped, places these events on March 6, 1944. Knoke evokes (see detail below) the death of Uffz. Weith. This death is listed in the losses of the JG11on March 6.
A direct testimony show that B-17 N ° 42-38211 "Sleepy Time Gal" was the victim of Heinz Knoke on March 8 1944.
These 2 victories are probably distributed on two days: March 6 and 8, 1944.
Type of claimed plane Fortress
Place of the interception
Crash Location
Presumed mission USAAF Bombing Berlin
Presumed route USAAF
Schedule second mission
Wunstorf's takeoff
Victory : 13.25 (Source REVI+)
Weather report
Knoke's Unit 5./JG11
(all Bf 109 of II./JG11)
Description of the fight "On our second mission I succeed in shooting down yet another Fortress. It also went down during the first frontal attack, aimed at the control cabin. Probably both pilots were killed and the controls put of action, because the plane crashed without any signs of fire."
A sure victory.
But this description didn't exactly sat with 8 March victory, so I suppose that it is about Heinz' victim on 6 March.Detail 1
Uffz. Weith is listed in the losses of the JG11 on March 6, 1944.
The airfield about which speaks Knoke is that of Wunstorf.
