1944-02-22, P-47

1944-02-22, P-47, Rozenburg/H.v. Holland Coast

1944-02-22, 15.58hr. North Sea (W of Hoek van Holland), P-47D, 42-75647, 353FG/351FS, 2nd Lt. J.E. Wood

1944-02-22, 15.58hr. North Sea (W of Hoek van Holland), P-47D, 42-75653, 353FG/351FS, 1st Lt. D.M. Hurlburt

TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 1944

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): HQ VIII Bomber Command is re-designated as HQ, Eighth Air Force.

Mission 230:

"Big Week" continues with 799 aircraft dispatched against German aviation and Luftwaffe airfields; 41 bombers and 11 fighters are lost.

1. 289 B-17s are dispatched against aviation industry targets at Aschersleben (34 bomb), Bernburg (47 bomb) and Halberstadt (18 bomb) in conjunction with a Fifteenth Air Force raid on Regensburg, Germany; 32 hit Bunde, 19 hit Wernegerode, 15 hit Magdeburg, 9 hit Marburg and 7 hit other targets of opportunity; they claim 32-18-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 38 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 141 damaged; casualties are 35 KIA, 30 WIA and 367 MIA.

2. 333 B-17s are dispatched to Schweinfurt but severe weather prevents aircraft from forming properly and they are forced to abandon the mission prior to crossing the enemy coast; 2 B-17s are damaged. Two days later they would return to Schweinfurt.

3. 177 B-24s are dispatched but they are recalled when 100 miles (160 km) inland; since they were over Germany, they sought targets of opportunity but strong winds drove the bombers over The Netherlands and their bombs hit Enschede, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Deventer; they claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-24s are lost and 3 damaged; casualties are 30 MIA.

These missions are escorted by 67 P-38s, 535 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s, and 57 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s;

the P-38s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 6 are damaged; the P-47s claim 39-6-15 Luftwaffe aircraft, 8 P-47s are lost and 12 damaged, 8 pilots are MIA; the P-51s claim 19-1-10 Luftwaffe aircraft, 3 P-51s are lost and 3 damaged, 3 pilot are MIA.

Schweinfurt.

Schweinfurt was a well known target for the USAAF. They had tried to attack the ball bearing factory twice before which resulted in great allied losses mainly because there was no fighter cover available at that time that could escort the Bomb force all the way to the target.

On August 17, 1943, 230 bombers launched a mission against the ball bearing factories in Schweinfurt and another 146 against the aircraft factories in Regensburg. Of this force, 60 aircraft were lost before returning to base, and another 87 had to be scrapped due to irreparable damage. The Germans claimed 27 fighters lost, serious enough, but paling in comparison to the losses on the part of the US forces. A second raid on October 14, 1943 fared almost as poorly; of the 291 aircraft on the mission, 77 were lost and 121 B-17’s damaged versus 35 Bf 109s & 38 Fw 190 lost and 20 dam. Daylight missions into Germany were called off in order to rebuild the forces.

The raids were extensively studied by both forces. The Germans concluded that their current strategy of deploying twin-engine designs with heavy armament was working well. Over the winter of 1943/44 they continued this program, adding to their heavy fighter ranks and developing heavier armaments for all of their aircraft. They also pulled almost all of their fighter forces back into Germany, as the majority of their losses were due to fighter actions over forward areas. There seemed to be no point to try attacking the bombers with enemy fighters in the area. The Allied forces came to other conclusions. Schweinfurt demonstrated that the bombers were not able to protect themselves, contrary to earlier thinking, and fighter cover had to be extended over the entire mission. Luckily for the U.S., the P-51 Mustang was just starting to arrive in quantity, an aircraft that had the range to escort the bombers to targets deep within Germany. Over the winter they re-organized their fighter squadrons as Mustangs arrived and longer-range versions of their existing aircraft were developed.

Although the Schweinfurt factorys were badly hit, the mission failed to achieve any lasting effect. The production of ball bearings in the factorys was halted for only 6 weeks and Germany's war industry could easily rely on its substantial inventory of ball bearings as well as a large production surplus. As addition, the ball bearing facilities were dispersed to reduce their bombing risk. Consequently despite General Henry H. Arnold's claim that the Black Thursday "loss of 60 [downed/ditched] American bombers in the Schweinfurt raid was incidental", unescorted daylight bomber raids deep into Germany were suspended until the February 1944 Big Week missions with long range escorts that included additional Schweinfurt day/night USAAF/RAF bombing on the 22nd. and 24th.

Strafing theScheur Polder (source: J. Prooi "Rozenburg in war")

Five? P-47 Thunderbolts from the 353rd Fighter Group flew on February 22, around 16.00 hours, from east to west at low altitude over the ScheurPolder on the island of Rozenburg. The flak responded with all means, with the result that three Thunderbolts were shot down and crashed into the sea. Two pilots were killed, the third was taken prisoner.

N.B. In the loss register SGLO only two casualties are mentioned. There is no trace of third crash. Perhaps this plane was only damaged.

P-47 Thunderbolt.

During the FLAK shelling bunker construction workers working on the Island of Rozenburg tried to take cover. The P-47’s were flying very low and the FLAK was almost firing horizontally at the planes. The 56-year-old F. Arnouts, a carpenter from Rotterdam, also tried to take cover in a bunker. Shortly afterwards his comrades heard a moan of pain and found him with abdominal wounds. He died at the scene from his injuries. Amongst his clothes FLAK shrapnel was found.

P-47D 42-75647 from 353 FG / FS 351 - Metfield Suffolk - was hit by Flak from the direction of Walcheren (Veere) flying low over the Veerse Gat. It was observed how the engine began to smoke after which the pilot headed for the mainland.

The KTB of the Kommando Flughafenbereich Gilze-Rijen mentions that the machine was hit by flak from both Kriegsmarine FLAK and Luftwaffe Flakabteilung 3./831 located near Moerdijk and then crashed west from Hook of Holland into the sea.

2LT. Joseph E.Wood mia

Walls ofThe Missing at the American military cemetery at Margraten.

P-47D 42-75653 from 353 FG / FS 351 was simultaneously in the same location and received similar fire. Initially it was assumed that the plane crashed in the coastal area between Walcheren and Schouwen in the sea. We now know he must have crashed in the same area as 2LT. Joseph E.Wood in front of the coast of Rozenburg/H. v. Holland.

1Lt. Thurs M. Hurlburt mia

Walls of the Missing at the American military cemetery at Margraten.

The 353rd Fighter Group

The Group Slybird

Bill's Buzz Boys

Station:

Metfield from 3 August 1943 to 12 April 1944

Raydon from 12 April 1944 to 10 October 1945

Station Callsign:

Boyhood (Metfield)

Cockle (Raydon)

Group Callsign:

Slybird to 22 April '44 then:

Jonah (A Group)

Keylock (B Group)

Muffin (C Group)

(No Squadron Callsigns in C Group)

350th Fighter Squadron Code: LH Callsign: Pipeful

to 22 April '44 then:

Seldom (A Group)

Persian (B Group)

LH

351st Fighter Squadron Code: YJ Callsign: Roughman

to 22 April '44 then:

Lawyer (A Group)

Squirrel (B Group)

YJ

352nd Fighter Squadron Code: SX Callsign: Wakeford

to 22 April '44 then:

Jockey (A Group)

Bullring (B Group)

SX

HISTORY:

Constituted as 353d Fighter Group on 29 Sep 1942. Activated on 1 Oct 1942. Trained for duty overseas and at the same time served as an air defense organization. Moved to England, May-Jun 1943. Assigned to Eighth AF. Operated against the enemy in combat over Europe from Aug 1943 to Apr 1945, using P-47's until conversion to P-51 in Oct 1944. Regularly escorted bombers that attacked industrial establishments, marshalling yards, submarine installations, V-weapon sites, and other targets; frequently strafed and dive-bombed buildings, troops, flak batteries, barges and tug boats, locomotives and rail lines, vehicles, bridges, and airfields; also flew numerous counter-air missions. From Aug 1943 to Feb 1944, provided escort for bombers that attacked targets in western Europe, made counter-air sweeps over France and the Low Countries, and dive-bombed targets in France. Participated in the intensive campaign against the German Air Force and aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944. Increased its fighter-bomber activities. Mar-May 1944. Provided cover over the beachhead and close support for the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944. Supported the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul. Received a DUC for supporting the airborne attack on Holland, when the group contributed to the operation by protecting bombers and troop carriers and by strafing and dive-bombing ground targets during the period 17-23 Sep 1944. Continued its fighter-bomber, escort, and counter-air activities, participating in the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945) and the airborne attack across the Rhine (Mar 1945). Remained in the theater until Oct. Inactivated in the US on 18 Oct 1945.

Redesignated 116th Fighter Group. Allotted to ANG (Ga) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 9 Sep 1946. Ordered to active duty on 10 Oct 1950. Redesignated 116th Fighter-Bomber Group in Nov 1950. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with F-80's and converted to F-84 aircraft in the spring of 1951. Moved to Japan in Jul 1951 and attached to Far East Air Forces for operations in the Korean War. Flew interdictory and close-support missions, strafing and dive-bombing power plants, buildings, mine entrances, gun positions, bunkers, troops, rail lines, trains, bridges, and vehicles. During the same period, also provided air defense for Japan. Relieved from active duty, returned to control of ANG (Ga) without personnel and equipment, and redesignated 116th Fighter-Interceptor Group, on 10 Jul 1952. Redesignated 116th Fighter-Bomber Group in Dec 1952.

SQUADRONS:

196th: 1950-1952.

350th: 1942-1945.

351st (later 158th): 1942-1945; 1950-1952.

352d (later 159th): 1942-1945; 1950-1952.

STATIONS:

Mitchel Field, NY, 1 Oct 1942

Richmond AAB, Va, c. 7 Oct 1942

Baltimore, Md, c. 26 Oct 1942-c. 27 May 1943

Goxhill, England, Jun 1943

Metfield, England, 3 Aug 1943

Raydon, England, Apr 1944-Oct 1945

Camp Kilmer, NJ, c. 16-18 Oct 1945.

Dobbins AFB, Ga, 10 Oct 1950

George AFB, Calif, c. 25 Oct 1950-Jul 1951

Misawa, Japan, c. 25 Jul 1951-10 Jul 1952.

COMMANDERS:

Lt Col Joseph A Morris, c. 15 Oct 1942

Lt Col Loren G McCollom, 18 Aug 1943

Col Glenn E Duncan, 25 Nov 1943

Col Ben Rimerman, 7 Jul 1944

Col Glenn E Duncan, 22 Apr 1945

Lt Col William B Bailey, 9 Sep 1945

Lt Col Robert A Elder, 24 Sep 1945-unkn.

Col Charles M Ford Jr, 10 Oct-1 Nov 1950

Lt Col Howard L Galbreath, 11 Nov 1950

Lt Col Ralph G Kuhn, 8 May 1951-unkn

Lt Col Daniel F Sharp, c. 31 Jan 1952-unkn.

CAMPAIGNS:

World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Korean War: UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952.

DECORATIONS:

Distinguished Unit Citation: Holland, 17-23 Sep 1944.

INSIGNE:

Shield: Per fess embattled debased azure and argent, three chevronels reversed of the second, the base chevronel fimbriated, forming a frazure at its apex over the embattlement azure; in chief four darts of the second in formation chevron-wise points downward, one in fess point, two in sinister, all within a diminutive border argent.

Motto: Vincet Amor Patriae - Love of Country Shall Conquer. (Approved 6 Jun 1952.)