March
6, 1944 23rd victory
March
6, 1944 23rd victory
Searches concerning this victory :
| progress of the search | 4 | Last update | September 29, 2003 | Evaluatio#quality of information | 3 |
The mission of the USAAF
COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCESMONDAY, 6 MARCH 1944
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS :
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force) :
Mission 250 :
504 B-17s and 226 B-24s are dispatched to hit industrial areas in the suburbs of Berlin; fierce fighter opposition claims 69 bombers (the highest number lost by the Eighth Air Force in a single day) and 11 fighters; the bombers claim 97-28-60 Luftwaffe fighters; details are:
1. 248 B-17s hit secondary targets in the Berlin area; 18 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 172 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 8 WIA and 184 MIA.
2. 226 B-17s hit targets of opportunity at Templin, Verden, Kalkeberge, Potsdam, Oranienburg and Wittenberg ; 35 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; casualties are 15 WIA and 354 MIA.
3. 198 B-24s hit the primary target (Genshagen industrial area), secondary targets in the Berlin area and targets of opportunity at Potsdam; 16 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 54 damaged; casualties are 15 KIA, 8 WIA and 148 MIA.
Escort is provided by 86 P-38s, 615 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 100 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; results are :
1. P-38s claim 3-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost, the pilot is MIA.
2. P-47s claim 36-7-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-47s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 5 MIA.
3. P-51s claim 43-1-20 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged ; casualties are 5 MIA.
The fighters also claim 1-0-12 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground.
B-17 declared lost on March 6, 1944 (current result of my works) :
Source : Book "The B-17 flying Fortress Story" & 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031).htm, 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757).htm, 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-39758 to 42-49982).htm
serial number
plane type or name
squadron
code
reason
mission lost on
pilot / crew
?
42-3215
ou
42-3125
?Douglas-Long Beach
B-17F-25-DL
"Linda Mary"381 BG
533 BSVP-S
Probably shot down by fighters North - East of Magdeburg at about 12.50
Berlin.
Crash Location
near
Magdeburg2nd Lt. Coyle, Richard W., P
2nd Lt. Baker, Robert J.
2nd Lt. Hasseltine, Robert E.
2nd Lt. Wierman, John B.
S/Sgt. Legg, Raymond F.
Sgt. Mendoza, Daniel (NMI)
Sgt. Mueller, John E.
Sgt. Schultz, Louis C.
S/Sgt. Seabaugh, Albert C.
S/Sgt. Smith, Peter W.
2KIA, 8POW.
MACR 300042-3491
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17F-75-DL
? B-17GSH ?482 BG
812 BSET-F
shot down by guns of the Heavy Flak Abteilungen 126 & 307 over Berlin at 1.26 pm. Aircraft broke up. This plane was a Pathfinder
Berlin
Crash Location
near
Lake Havel
West of
BerlinColonel R. Wilson, P,
6KIA, 4POW,
MACR 336242-3529
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17F-75-DL95 BG
336 BSET-F
damaged by Flak, finished off by fighter attack north of Magdeburg at about 1.55 pm. Aircraft lost formation, under controle.
Berlin
Crash Location
Magdeburg2nd Lt. F.Frantz, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 297942-29943
B-17F-BO "Situation Normal"
95 BG
334 BSBG-K
shot down by fighter attack near Haselünne at about 12.00. Aircraft in fire lost formation under controle then explosed.
Crash Location
near Barnstorf2nd Lt. A. Mailman, P,
5KIA, 5POW,
MACR 289042-30170
Boeing
B-17F-90-BO
"Oh Nausea"100 BG 349 BS
XR-G
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
Verden
Crash Location
Colnrade1st Lt. C. Montgomery, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 301542-30278
Boeing
B-17F-95-BO
"Sly Fox" ?100 BG 418 BS
LD-R
Probably shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at about 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
?2nd Lt. Z. Kendall, P,
No survivors ?
MACR 301642-30799
Boeing
B-17F-120-BO
"Big Ass Bird II"100 BG 349 BS
XR-L
shot down during attack by fighters near Haselünne at about 12.00. Aircraft went down with tail on fire.
Berlin
Crash Location
?1st Lt. W. Murray, P,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 301742-31051
Boeing
B-17G-1-BO
"Goin' Jessies"100 BG 351 BS
EP-K
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
Oranienburg
Crash Location
? Jump ?
near Oldenburg2nd Lt R. Koper, P,
7KIA, 3POW,
MACR 3018
42-31079
Boeing
B-17G-1-BO91 BG 401 BS
LL-J/F
shot down north of Magdeburg at 12.45, right stabilizer shot off.
Possibly claimed by Lt Iffland of JG3 on Me 109G.Erkner
Crash Location
near Gardelegen1st Lt P. Coleman, P
4KIA, 6POW,
MACR 289742-31135
Boeing
B-17G-5-BO
"Susie SagTits"388 BG 562 BS
?
shot down by fighter over western Holland. Possibly by Hptm Frey of JG11.
Berlin
Crash Location
near Oud Schoonebeek
(Hol).1st Lt M. Givens, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 308242-31163
Boeing
B-17G-5-BO
"A Good and Happy Ship"388 BG 562 BS
?
damaged in action with fighters near Lingen at about 2.50 pm and left formation, landed in Sweden and the crew interned.
Berlin
damaged near Lingen.
Posé en Suede2nd Lt. C. Wallace, P,
All repatiated to England in
November 1944,
MACR 308342-31194
Boeing
B-17G-5-BO
"Duchess of Dixie"388 BG 562 BS
?
shot down by fighter near Dutch border at about 2.50 pm.
Berlin
Crash Location
Schoeningsdorf1st Lt. C. Grindley, P,
3 KIA, 7POW, MACR 308442-31240
Boeing
B-17G-10-BO
"Shack Job"388 BG 561 BS
?
shot down by fighter attack south of Bremen at about 2.50. Crew bailed out and aircraft flew for about half an hour on autopilot before it crashed.
Berlin
Crash Location
Soltau
South of Hamburg2nd Lt. J. McLaughlin, P,
10POW,
MACR 308642-31251
Boeing
B-17G-BO95 BG 334 BS
BG-P
shot down by fighters near Diepholz.
at approx 12.20, aircraft in fire left formation, out of controle.Berlin
Crash Location
8 miles South of Bremen1st Lt. T. Keasbey, P,
10POW,
MACR 298142-31299
Boeing
B-17G-5-BO
?
"She's my Gal II"
ou
"Junior"
?95 BG 334 BS
BG-M
Shot down by fighter at about 2.50 pm, over Beilen (Hol). Wing on fire the plane tried to stay as long as possible with formation then said to Group Leader that the crew was going to bail.
Berlin
Crash Locationµ
9 miles South West of Assen (Hol)1st Lt L. Garland, P,
EVD 4 months,
1EVD, 9POW,
MACR 299942-31337
Boeing
B-17G-5-BO
"Hell's Cargo"452 BG 731 BS
?
Aircraft forced to leave formation after being engaged over Berlin by Heavy Flak Abteilung 437. Finished off by guns of the 15th Flak Brigade, Hannover.
Berlin
Crash Location
2 miles south of Faßberg, on the gun testing range of the Rheinmetall Borsig factory.2nd Lt. H. Sweeny, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 291442-31373
Boeing
B-17G-15-BO
"Flakstop"452 BG 731 BS
?
shot down by fighter near the German-
Dutch border at about 2.50 pm.Berlin
Crash Location
near
Staphorst
(Hol)2nd Lt. C. Wagner, P,
5EVD, 4KIA, 1POW,
MACR 291642-31448
Boeing
B-17G-20-BO
"Half Breed"381 BG 532 BS
VE-A
Forced to leave the formation by fighter attack between Magdeburg and Berlin at
about 1.05 pm.
Finished off by Oblt. Matoni ofJG26 near Jülich at 3.05 pm.Berlin
4ème mission
Crash Location
Etzweiler
near Rheune.2nd Lt. Fastrup, Miltin A. P
2nd Lt. Mann, Edward C.
2nd Lt. King, Martin P.
S/Sgt. Atkinson, Howard C.
Sgt. Estle, Elmer E.
T/Sgt. Glauer, Raymond R.
S/Sgt. Provonsha, William W.
S/Sgt. Shorten, Christopher J.
Sgt. Dynan, George J.
Sgt. Snyder, John S.
10 POW.
MACR 3001
42-31503
Boeing
B-17G-20-BO92 BG 325 BS
?
Believed shot down north of Magdeburg by fighters, at approx 12.50.
Berlin
Crash Location
Brachwitz
South West of Berlin.1st Lt. F. Krizan, P,
10POW,
MACR 290342-31553
Boeing
B-17G-20-BO
"Myer's Flaw"381 BG 534 BS
GD-B
shot down by fighters north east of Magdeburg at about 1.10 pm.
Berlin
4th mission
Crash Location
2 miles south of Wernsdorf1st Lt. Haushalter, Edward E. P
2nd Lt. Hensley, Herman M.
2nd Lt. Schuit, Richard R.
2nd Lt. Herrick, John W.
S/Sgt. Nisbet, Richard H.
S/Sgt. Lee, Harry E.
Sgt. Greevy, Edward J.
Sgt. Langston, Everett V.
Sgt. Alfaro, Ralph A.
Sgt. Jones, Eldon P.
5KIA, 5POW.
MACR 324142-31555
Boeing
B-17G-20-BO379 BG 527 BS
?
Probably shot down by fighters north of Magdeburg at about 12.50.
Berlin
4th mission
Crash Location
Ochsenmoor
(near Kiepholz)1st Lt W. Hendrickson, P
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 290942-31578
Boeing
B-17G-20-BO
"My Darling Also"91 BG 401 BS
LL-L
Rammed by Fw190 north of Magdeburg at approx 12.50.
Berlin
11th mission
Crash Location
North of Magdeburg1st Lt B. Tibbetts, P,
8KIA, 2POW,
MACR 289842-31595
BoeingB-17G-20-BO
457 BG 750 BS
?
Rammed by Me410 pilotd by Fw W. Bonnecke of ZG26. Bomber then swung sharply across the formation and rammed B-17
# 42-31627Berlin
Crash Location
Wreckage scatered over 4 miles , to South West of Berlin.2nd Lt. E. Whalen, P,
10KIA,
MACR 319742-31627
Boeing
B-17G-20-BO457 BG 748 BS
?
Rammed by
B-17
#42-31595Berlin
Crash Location
Treuenbrietzen
30 miles South West of Berlin2nd Lt. R. Graves, P, KIA
Sgt E. Willams, TG, POW,
9KIA, 1POW,
MACR 319842-31680
Boeing
B-17G-25-BO92 BG 407 BS
?
Believed shot down by fighters during the return flight, at about 2.50 pm. Loss links with a claim by Major H. Baer of JG1.
Berlin
Crash Location
? Plantleunne ?1st Lt. E. Cooper, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 2904
B-17G-25-BOXR-M
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
near Quackenbrück1st Lt. A. Amiero, P,
9KIA, 1POW,
MACR 301942-31735
Boeing
B-17G-30-BO
"Lucky Lee"100 BG 351BS
EP-B
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
Hausstette
west of Vechta1st Lt. G. Brannan, P,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 302042-31800
Boeing
B-17G-30-BO100 BG 418BS
LD-U
? fighter ?
Berlin
Crash Location
? Oldenburg ?2nd Lt. S. Barton, P,
10POW,
MACR 3021
42-31869
Boeing
B-17G-30-BO
"Hell and High Water"91 BG 401 BS
LL-Y
shot down by fighters north of Magdeburg, approx 12.45. Moteur #3 exploded.
Berlin
Crash Location
Trebbin
(South of Berlin)1st Lt C. Mason, P
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 289942-31911
Boeing
B-17G-30-BO91 BG 323 BS
OR-Q
shot down by fighters north of Magdeburg at 12.49.
Berlin
Crash Location
Ramstedt
(13 miles north of Magdeburg)1st Lt D. Harding, P,
10POW,
MACR 290042-31935
Boeing
B-17G-35-BO
"Stark's Ark"390 BG 571 BS
?
shot down by fighter during the attack near Quakenbrück at about 12.15
Berlin
Crash Location
Hemmelte
South West ofCloppenburg1st Lt R. Starks, P,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 298942-32002
Boeing
B-17G-35-BO
"Berlin First"95 BG 335 BS
OE-X
shot down by fighter near Quakenbrück at approx 12.10 Aircraft with motors #3 & #4 damaged, motor #2 in fire, plunged, then fly again on controle while crew bailed.
Berlin
Crash Location
near Barnsdorf2nd Lt. T. Barksdale, P,
10POW,
MACR 298242-37886
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-15-DL
"Blitzin Betsy"388 BG 562 BS
?
shot down by fighter near Dutch border at about 2.50. Pilot held aircraft steady for crew to bail out buut it collided with
B-17
#42-40054 and both aircrafts went downBerlin
Crash Location
South of Klazienaveen
(Hol)1st Lt. L. Watts, P,
4KIA, 6POW,
MACR 308942-38011
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-25-DL
"Kinda Ruff"100 BG 351 BS
EP-P
shot down by an Me 109
at about 2.20 pm near Diepholz. Aircraft blew up.Berlin
Crash Location
near Diepholz1st Lt. E. Handorf, P,
8KIA, 2POW,
MACR 302342-38022
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-25-DL
"Jeanne"94 BG 410 BS
GL-M
shot down by fighter over western Germany
at about 2.30 pm.
Very probably linked with claim at the same hour by Obfw. Heitmann of 4./JG26 North West from Osnabruck.Berlin
Crash Location
Wieste
(near Plantlünne)1st Lt. C. Johnston, P, KIA
2Lt James T. Howes, CP, KIA
2Lt Paul J. Sullivan, N, POW
2Lt Robert E. Davenport, B, POW
T/Sgt Richard A. Elliot, RO, POW
T/Sgt Julian A. Wiedemann, TT, POW
S/Sgt Sanford Minor Jr., BT, POW
S/Sgt Robert J. Thornton, RW, POW
S/Sgt Robbie B. Beaton, LW, POW
S/Sgt Aaron J. Lowry, TG, POW
MACR 297742-38024
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-25-DL95 BG 336 BS
ET-Q
shot down by fighter near Quakenbrück at approx 12.15.
Berlin
Crash Location
near Colnrade1st Lt. M. Russell, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 298442-38044
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-25-DL
"Spirit of '44"100 BG
351 BSEP-R
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at about 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
near Quackenbrück1st Lt. M. Rish, P,
3KIA, 7POW,
MACR 3026
42-38059
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-25-DL100 BG 418 BS
LD-A
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at about 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
near QuackenbrückCapt D. Miner, P,
4KIA, 6POW,
MACR 302742-38118
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-30-DL91 BG 323 BS
OR-N
Hit by Flak West of Hannover at approx 12.30, left formation and descended to low altitude.
Engaged by l'Oblt. Greiner Me110 of NJG1 at12.46 over Quackenbrück airfield.
Engaged by Light Flak Abteilung 844.Erkner
Crash Location
7 miles South West of Quackenbrück.2nd Lt B. Fourmy, P
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 290142-38136
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-30-DL401 BG 615 BS
IY-G
damaged during attack by fighters North - East of Magdeburg at about 12.50. Finished off by 8,8cm guns of Heavy Flak Abteilungen 326 and 605 over Berlin.
Berlin
Crash Location
Biesow
East of Berlin2nd Lt C. Kolb, P,
10POW,
MACR 274342-38177
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-30-DL
"Shack Rabbits"388 BG 561 BS
?
shot down by fighter near the German-Dutch Border at 2.50 pm.
Berlin
Crash Location near
Bad Bentheim2nd Lt A. Christiani, P,
5KIA, 5POW,
MACR 309142-38197
Douglas-Long Beach
B-17G-30-DL
"Half and Half"100 BG 350 BS
LN-T
shot down during attack by fighters near Haselünne at about 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
Haltern
near Visbeck
North of Vechta1st Lt. J. Lautenschlager, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 302842-39793
Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-5-VE95 BG 412 BS
QW-V
Seen to go down after fighter attack near Quakenbrück at about 12.10.
The aircraft with motor #2 damaged left formation, went down steeply..Berlin
Crash Location
?
Quackenbrück
?1st Lt. R. Read, P,
10POW,
MACR 298542-39872
Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-5-VE
"Rubber Check"100 BG 350 BS
LN-A
damaged by Flak over Berlin
and forced to leave the formation.
Finished offby fighter. Crashed at about 2.00 pm.Berlin
Crash Location
near Ostpriegnitz1st Lt. F. Granack, P,
2KIA, 8POW,
MACR 303042-39994
Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-10-VE
"Barrick's Bag"100 BG 418 BS
?
damaged during attack by fighters near Haselünne at about 12.00.
Landed in Sweden.Berlin
Crash Location
Bulltofta (Sue)1st Lt. S. Barrick, P,
10INT until September 1944, then returned,
MACR 303142-40006
Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-5-VE
"Liberty Lady"306 BG 368 BS
BO-H
Two motors damaged by the Flak over Berlin. Landed in Sweden.
Berlin
Crash Location
Mastermyr
(Island of Gotland Sweden)1st Lt. C. Smith, P
10INT,
MACR 273542-40052
Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-5-VE92 BG 407 BS
?
Aircraft hit by heavy Flak near German-Dutch border at about 11h30 on the way in. Incendiary bombs caugth fire and it left formation heading west
Berlin
Crash Location
Hengelo (Hol)1st Lt. W. Upson, P,
4EVD, 1KIA, 5POW,
MACR 2905
Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-10-VE388 BG 562 BS
?
Rammed by
B-17 #42-37886 at about 2.55 and went down steeply.Berlin
Crash Location
near Coevorden
(Hol)Capt P. Brown, P,
5KIA, 6POW,
MACR 3092Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-VE
"Terry and the Pirates"100 BG 418 BS
LD-W
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
Berlin
Crash Location
Quackenbrück1st Lt. W. Terry, P,
7KIA, 3POW,
MACR 3033Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-VE91 BG 322 BS
LG-L
damaged
by fighter attack North of Magdeburg at approx 12.45.
Continued to target but caught fire after bombing.Berlin
Crash Location
Wilmersdorf
(near Bernau North-East of Berlin)2nd Lt B. Evertson, P
10POW,
MACR 2902Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-VE
"Ronnie R"100 BG 418 BS
LD-B
shot down during fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
Finished off by Ofw Reinthaler of JG11.Berlin
Crash Location
near Twistringen1st Lt. D. Radtke, P,
1KIA, 9POW,
MACR 3043Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-VE95 BG 336 BS
ET-C
shot down by fighter attack near Haselünne at approx 12.00.
damaged between motors #1 et 2 the aircraft left formation under control, in longue diving trajectory . Some of crew bailed out near Barnstorf.Berlin
Crash Location
near Barnstorf ?1st Lt J. Conley, P,
10POW,
MACR 2986Lockheed/Vega
B-17G-VE92 BG 327 BS
?
Shot down by 10,5 cm guns of Heavy Flak Abteilung 231 at Oythe near Vechta, at 2.31 pm.
Aircraft broke up in the air.Berlin
Crash Location
Oythe
near Vechta1st Lt R. Townsend, P, KIA
S/Sgt O. Maiocco, TG, POW,
9KIA, 1POW,
MACR 2996
The report USAAF of the mission #250 declares 53 B-17 lost on March 6, 1944. This table is complete.
- - - Special thanks to Helynn Schufletowski for his help on 95BG - - -
Description of this victory by Heinz Knoke and different information :
Heinz Knoke Informations
Personal comments
Source
Date
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 and very recent testimony, still to be confirmed, should have to show that B-17 N ° 42-38211 "Sleepy Time Gal" was the victim of Heinz Knoke on March 8.
These 2 victories are probably distributed on two days: March 6 and 8, 1944.
Type of claimed plane
Place of the interception
Over Wunstorf.
Crash Location
Square GT-3
Presumed mission USAAF
Presumed route USAAF
Schedule
Wunstorf's takeoff
Victory : 12.15 (Source REVI+)Weather report
Knoke's Unit
Description of the fight
"In the first frontal attack I shot down a Fortress just north of the airfield and leave a second one in flames. I cannot watch it crash, however, because I am fully occupied with several Thunderbolts trying to get in my tail."A sure and locate victory.
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.
