15 May 1943

SATURDAY, 15 MAY 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 57: 113 B-17's are dispatched against
various targets in Germany as well as airfield and naval installations on
Helgoland Island and the naval base and submarine construction works at
Wilhelmshaven; 76 bomb the targets at 1050-1055 hours local; we claim 29-
20-30 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed; we lose 5 B-17's, 1 is damaged beyond
repair and 26 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 7 WIA and 51 MIA. 80 B-17's
are dispatched against the U-boat yard, marshalling yard and airfield at
Emden, Germany; 59 bomb at 1056-1103 hours local; they claim 14-3-1
Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 1 B-17 and 9 others are damaged; casualties
are 10 MIA.
116 P-47's are dispatched on a high altitude sweep of the
Amsterdam/Rotterdam area prior to the bombing raids; they claim 2
Luftwaffe aircraft damaged; 1 P-47 is lost and the pilot is listed as MIA.
The 109th Observation Squadron, 67th Observation Group, with Spitfire
VB's, transfers from Atcham, England to Membury, England.