27 January 1943

WEDNESDAY, 27 JANUARY 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Bomber Command Mission 31: The Eighth Air Force makes its first raid
on Germany. The 1st and 2d Bombardment Wings dispatch 64 B-17s and 27
B-24s against the primary target, the Wilhelmshaven, Germany Naval Base; 53
B-17s hit the target between 1110 and 1113 hours local dropping 137.5 tons
of bombs; two other B-17s attack the submarine base at Emden at 1135 hours
as a target of opportunity; the B-24s are unable to locate the target due
to bad weather and a navigational error and return to base. Mission
stats: we claim 22 enemy aircraft destroyed, 14 probably destroyed and 13
damaged; 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are lost; 32 B-17s and 11 B-24s are damaged;
casualties are 2 KIA, 3 WIA and 30 MIA.
Seven Spitfire Mk Vs of the 4th Fighter Group fly uneventful fighter
patrols.