17 July 1943

SATURDAY, 17 JULY 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 74: The two primary targets are the
rail industry at Hannover, Germany and the aviation industry at Hamburg,
Germany. Both missions are recalled due to weather but the bombers hit
three targets, i.e.:
1. 205 B-17's and 2 YB-40's are dispatched against Hannover; 33 hit
targets of opportunity; they claim 32-7-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is
lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 50 are damaged; casualties are 1
KIA, 9 WIA and 3 MIA.
2. 125 B-17's are dispatched against Hamburg; 1 hits a convoy and 21
attempt to bomb the Fokker plant at Amsterdam, The Netherlands which is
obscured by clouds; the target is missed and 150 civilians are killed;
they claim 28-9-33 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 is damaged
beyond repair and 41 are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 14 MIA.
VIII Air Support Command Mission Nubmer 2: B-26's fly a diversion to
the Cayeux, France area.