B-17F 385th BG, 548th BS 'The Jolly Roger' ...

[Mark Allen M]

Lockheed Vega B-17F-30-VE Fortress (385th BG, 548th BS, 'The Jolly Roger') shot down by Lt Georg Kiefner in Fw 190A-5 of JG 263 2km SW of Woensdrecht, Netherlands Aug 17, 1943 on raid to Regensburg Schweinfurt MACR 387A. 6 KIA, 3 POW, 1 evaded.

B-17 42-5886 / The Jolly Roger Crew

Position Rank Name Status Note

P 2LT Paul A. Sommers KIA -
CP 2LT Herbert W. Brown KIA -
NAV 2LT Hugh T. McClatchey KIA -
BOMB 2LT Henri S. Walker POW -
ENG/TT T/SGT Bruno M. Gallerani EVD -
RO T/SGT Olin L. Wieneke KIA -
BT S/SGT James H. Brown POW -
WG S/SGT Larry B. Stokes POW -
WG S/SGT Parker F. Crabtree KIA -
TG S/SGT Joe Schreppel KIA -





The mission flown on 17-Aug-43, the 1st anniversary of the 1st mission flown by the 8th Air Force, is probably the most written about mission of the war. This is the famous Schweinfurt/Regensburg mission on which 60 B-17s are lost. It has been dubbed "Black Tuesday." It is this mission that finally brought home to the air war planners the true vulnerability of the famous B-17 "Flying Fortress" and the critical need for fighter escorts that could accompany the bomber streams to and from targets deep in Germany as "Little Friends."

The need for such a mission was suggested by General Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in March 1943 in accordance with the "Casablanca Directive" (21-Jan-43 cf. CASABLANCA DIRECTIVE in the Missions index for details) and the "Pointblank Directive" (14-Jun-43 cf. POINTBLANK DIRECTIVE in the Missions index for details)

This was one of the most complex missions attempted up to that time in the war and directed deep into Germany to bomb the Messerschmitt production factories at Regensburg and the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt, Germany. Success would require: close timing; cooperation of the weather in England and across the Continent; precision flying and a goodly measure of luck. While fighter escort was to be a component, it could only accompany the bombers for a short distance into the Continent because of the limited range of the P-47. However, USAAF planners were still very much convinced that the B-17 Flying Fortress and close formation flying would be sufficient to allow the bombers to destroy these targets.

The planned mission was divided into three Air Task Forces. 1st Air Task Force was composed of 146 B-17s, led by Colonel Curtis LeMay of 4th Bomb Wing. This task force was composed of three Combat Wings (CW): 403CW would consist of 62 aircraft: 96BG (21) Lead Group; 388BG (21) Low Group; and 390BG (20) High Group; 401CW would consist of 42 aircraft: 94BG (21) Lead Group; 385BG (21) Low Group; and 402CW consisted of 42 aircraft: 95BG (21) Lead Group; and 100BG (21) Low Group. The Combat Wings would take off at three minute intervals bewteen Comabt Wings with that target being the Messerschmitt factories at Regensburg. The formation would bomb the target and then proceed south to bases in North Africa. It was hoped that this formation would lure the German fighters away from the two Air Task Forces of 1st Bomb Division that would attack the ball bearing works a Schweinfurt.

1st Air Division, led by Brigadier General Robert Williams, would consist of 230 B-17s divided among 2nd Air Task Force, led by Colonel William M. Gross, and 3rd Air Task Force, led by Colonel Howard M. Turner. 2nd Air Task Force would consist of 116 aircraft divided into two Combat Wings (CW): 101CW would consist of 57 B-17s: 91BG (18) Lead Group; 381BG (20) Low Group; and Composite Group A (High Group) consisting of 19 B-17s: 306BG (7); 91BG (6); and 381BG (6). The other Combat Wing (CW) of 2nd Air Task Force was a Composite Wing which would consist of 59 B-17s: 351BG (21) Lead Group; 384BG (18) Low Group; and Composite Group B (High Group) consisting of 20 B-17s: 306BG (9); 305BG (9) and 92BG (2). These CWs were to take off at five minute intervals ten minutes after 1st Air Task Force and attack Schweinfurt.

3rd Air Task Force would consist of 114 B-17s divided into two Combat Wings (CW): 102CW would consist of 61 B-17s: 306BG (21) Lead Group; 92BG (20) Low Group; and 305BG (20) High Group; 103 Provisional CW would consist of 53 B-17s: 379BG (18) Lead Group; 303BG (18) Low Group; and Composite C (High Group) 17 B-17s: 303BG (10), 379BG (6), 384BG (1). These two Air Task Forces were to take off at five minute intervals between CWs, twelve minute intervals between Task Forces and ten minutes after 1st Air Task Force. All Air Task Forces were to fly the same course out of England and into Germany. 1st Air Task Force would proceed to bases in North Africa and the Schweinfurt force would bomb and then return to their bases in England. Everything seemed to be set. 230 B-17s would attack at Schweinfurt and 146 at Regensburg.

On the morning of 17-Aug-43 the weather over the American bases in England was terrible. Ground fog, light drizzle, and completely overcast skies caused the take-off time schedule to get seriously degraded. 1st Air Task Force under Col. LeMay had much training in instrument take-offs and they managed to get in the air an assemble pretty much on schedule. The 230 B-17s of first Bomb Division were not well trained for taking-off in the conditions and they waited and incredible one and one half hours for the fog to lift before they took off. This was disasterous for any element of surprise for the force attacking Schweinfurt and it meant that whatever fighter force engaging LeMay's 1st Air Division would have the opportunity to re-fuel and attack the Schweinfurt Air Task Forces.

The Germans put up every aircraft they could muster to meet the strung out bomber formations and the anti-aircraft fire was horrendous. Of the 230 B-17s despatched to Schweinfurt, 183 managed to hit Schweinfurt, 1 dropped on Frankfurt and 4 attacked targets of opportunity. 36 B-17s Failed to Return crewed by 361 airmen (disposition of these based on MACR records and documented rescues is: 67KIA 247POW 27EVD 20RTD [rescued by ASR]). One MACR #283 was issued for B-17F 42-5712 "My Prayer" 91BG/324BS which actually returned to England but was DBR from which there were 7POW 3RTD. In addition there were 3KIA and 12WIA in returning aircraft. Adjusting the totals for the Schweinfurt Groups: 70KIA, 12WIA, 254POW, 27EVD, 20RTD (rescued) and 3RTD OK. The bomber gunners claimed 140-19-36 of the attacking German fighters, but these figures were grossly exaggerated (The combined totals of bomber gunner claims in both the Schweinfurt and Regeansburg attacks was 288-37-99. German records claim that 21 aircraft were shot down by the bomber gunners another 21 were shot down by fighters and 5 were lost on take-off and landing accidents. 16 airmen killed and 9 wounded)

Of the 146 B-17s that were despatched to Regensburg 24 B-17s Failed to Return crewed by 24 airmen(FTR)(disposition of these based on MACR records and confirmed rescues is: 34KIA, 130POW, 16EVD, 20INT and 40RTD [rescued by ASR]). One B-17 was DBR but crew OK. In aircraft that managed to return to North African bases 4KIA and 9WIA. Adjustiing the totals for the Regensburg Groups: 38KIA, 9WIA, 130POW, 16EVD, 20INT and 40RTD. The bomber gunners claimed 140-19-36 of attacking aircraft (grossly exaggerated).

Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped 298.75
Number of aircraft Sent 146
Number of aircraft Effective 127
Number of aircraft Missing In Action 24
Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair 1
Number of aircraft Damaged 50
Number of people Killed In Action 38
Number of people Wounded in Action 9
Number of people Evaded 16
Number of people Prisoners of War 130
Number of people Interned 20
Number of people Returned To Duty 40
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command 140
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command 19
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command 36
2. SCHWEINFURT (Primary)
Description
BALL BEARING FACTORIES

Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes
Anniversary of 1st 8th Air Force mission. Deepest penetration to date. 60 bombers lost. "Black Tuesday." The 91st Bomb Group leads the mission. The 381st Bomb Group suffers the highest losses of all 8th Air Force Bomb Groups on this mission (11 aircraft Missing in Action (MIA))

links worth some time to review.
http://www.385thbga.com/photos/aircraft/
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/mission/1704
https://www.missinginaction.be/jollyroger_en.php
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/51479

[Chris Brame]

Nice shot of it as a brand new plane; spotted it on eBay but couldn't quite read the fuselage art it got at the factory. Anyone have a close-up? Did it keep that art when it went into combat, or was it painted over for fuselage codes?

[Pat Carry]

Thanks Mark. Great post

[Mark Allen M]

Nice shot of it as a brand new plane; spotted it on eBay but couldn't quite read the fuselage art it got at the factory. Anyone have a close-up? Did it keep that art when it went into combat, or was it painted over for fuselage codes?

Yes, and others did as well.

Lockheed/Vega B-17F-30-VE Fortress 42-5879 (385th BG, 548th BS, 'Daisy June II') lost May 7, 1944. MACR 4562

[LysanderUK]

Nice shot of it as a brand new plane; spotted it on eBay but couldn't quite read the fuselage art it got at the factory. Anyone have a close-up? Did it keep that art when it went into combat, or was it painted over for fuselage codes?

Yes, and others did as well.

Lockheed/Vega B-17F-30-VE Fortress 42-5879 (385th BG, 548th BS, 'Daisy June II') lost May 7, 1944. MACR 4562

Interesting to see what look like red borders on the Star and Bar, even though she was lost months after these were officially phased out.

I looked Daisy June up on the American Air Museum site, all 10 crew survived to become PoW's.

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/8416

[Mark Allen M]