71st anniversary of largest air strike of WW2: Mission 760 over W. Germany

[GTP1960]

Dec. 24, 1944 :
[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]this was the largest air strike of WWII; [/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]The weather cleared for the first time in weeks, a quick decision was made to take advantage of it on Christmas eve.
A total of 2,034 bombers and 853 fighters are dispatched over key marshaling areas in West Germany; they claim 92-6-21 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 bombers and 10 fighters are lost:

This was my uncles, Lt. Frank Blackwell's, 22nd mission (of 35 total) at 22 years old.
He was cited with the Silver Star as a B-17 flying fortress pilot (Ruby's Raiders)
heros were common back then.

[/FONT]

 

[Basil]

Thank goodness we didn't have today's ROE back then or we'd all be speaking German today.

 

[SaxMan]

Keep in mind, this was at the height of the Battle of the Bulge. For the previous eight days, weather had kept the Allies massive air superiority from being able to be brought to bear against the German forces. Besides the combat missions, there was also a massive resupply utilizing about every available plane in IX Troop Carrier Command and RAF Transport Command. This massive use of force on the 24th was a decisive factor in helping the Allied ground forces stem the German tide.

Square G = 385th Bomb Group. B-17 44-6483 "Ruby's Raiders" was assigned to the 385th BG / 550th BS in September 1944. The plane survives the war, returning to the United State at the end of June 1945. It is sent on to Kingman, Arizona, where she, like so many of her sisters, is unceremoniously scrapped.

 

[PAUL161]

I was 6 years old on that day. We listened to the radio every day and were all waiting for word of my dad coming home, as we lost touch with him, and he did come home, 1 year later, a very happy occasion! He was one of the lucky ones. He lived to be 90. PJ

 

[NutmegCT]

Dec. 24, 1944 :
this was the largest air strike of WWII;
The weather cleared for the first time in weeks, a quick decision was made to take advantage of it on Christmas eve.
A total of 2,034 bombers and 853 fighters are dispatched over key marshaling areas in West Germany; they claim 92-6-21 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 bombers and 10 fighters are lost:

This was my uncles, Lt. Frank Blackwell's, 22nd mission (of 35 total) at 22 years old.
He was cited with the Silver Star as a B-17 flying fortress pilot (Ruby's Raiders)
heros were common back then.

View attachment 40472View attachment 40473

Guy - which man in the photo is your uncle? I have a photo you might be interested in seeing.

Tom M.

 

[GTP1960]

Guy - which man in the photo is your uncle? I have a photo you might be interested in seeing.

Tom,

he's the officer on the far left.
(farthest from "Ruby")

 

[NutmegCT]

Guy - here's the real Ruby.

View attachment 40478

B-17G-50-DL (AAF 44-6483) Ruby’s Raiders was flown by Lt Frank Blackwell of the 550th Bomb Sq of the 385th Bomb Group. In the spring of 1945 WAC corporal Ruby Newell from Long Beach CA was working on the 8th Air Forces 3rd Bomb Division staff. In a Stars and Stripes poll she was voted the most beautiful WAC in the ETO (European Theater of Operations). As a winner she was awarded (among other things) a bouquet (which she can be seen holding in this original photograph). She also had her portrait painted on this particular B-17.

Now you know who "graced" your uncle's aircraft.

Tom M.

 

[Basil]

That's a great story Tom, thanks for sharing. Those were the days - BPC.

 

[GTP1960]

Thanks Tom,

A pretty face like that........maybe the Gerry's were reluctant to shoot her out of the sky.
family lore was, Lt. Blackwell & Ms. Newell were an item, over there.