* * 18 Schweinfurt, Germany Oct 14, 1943

Target - the ball bearing industry

Above, the iconic photo of 305th Bomb Group B-17 formation on a Schweinfurt, Germany mission. Date unconfirmed. Of 320 bombers dispatched on Oct 14, 60 were brought down. 594 airmen were listed as MIA. The 305th lost 13 of 16 bombers on Oct 14, 1943, the most of any group. Credit USAF photo.

Below, the chilling account of the Wooldridge crew's mission over Schweinfurt. Five of the seven ships in his group were shot down. Sixty bombers were lost in one of the worst battles of WWII.

Above B -17 42 30813 306th BG. MIA Oct 14, 1943 over Schweinfurt. Breaks in half near Dorne, Belgium.

5KIA, 5POW 306th BG lost 10 of 18 bombers.