World War 2 Mission Data Base of Lt. George Wolf

Mission Number

Date

Target

Ship Number/Name

Flying Time

Pilot /CoPilot

Bomb Load

Bombing Altitude

Amount of Flak

Amount of Fighters

Comments

1

5/18/1944

Romano Oil Refinery Ploesti Romania

42-97437

6:55

Cassick/Wolf

6-1000#

23,600

Minor

None

Solid Overcast over target, turned 30 mins from target, Bombed marshalling yards at Nis. Made 360 turn over target

2

5/22/1944

Avezzano, Italy Marshalling Yards

42-97516

4:20

Clem/Wolf

12-500#

19,400

Minor

None

Heavy overcast, made 3-360 turns over target, finding hole on 3rd pass

5/25/1944

Lyon France, Marshalling Yard and Train Car Repair Shop

42-30435

8:55

Purdy/Wolf

12-500#

24,500

None

None

Lost #2 Engine, 25 miles from coast of France, feathered engine, salvo bombs. Navigator got lost. Went to Sicily then on to Foggia. Just barely made it

3

5/27/1944

Town of Razanak, Yugoslavia

42-30361

3:45

Wolf/Swain

38-100#

13,500

None

None

Very Good bombing on target circle of 2000' . Checked out as pilot. Had escort of 40 P-38 fighters

4+5

5/29/1944

Wollersdorf A/D Austria

42-30361

6:45

Wolf/Jergens

38-100#

24,000

Heavy

None

Plenty of Flak and very accurate. One ship went down from 340th. It had wing fire and exploded -3 chutes seen

6+7

6/2/1944

Operation "Frantic Joe". Shuttle Raid to Russia. Target Marshalling Yards at Debreczen, Hungary

42-30361

7:00

Spradley/Wolf

Moderate

None

Operation "Frantic Joe" Shuttle Raid to Russia. Landed at Soviet base in Poltava Russia. One ship exploded in mid air. Gen Eaker and 2 Star on trip. Very Heavy fighter escort. 70 P-51's.

8+9

6/11/1944

Foscani Air Fields Romania

42-30361

7:30

Marlowe/Wolf

Moderate

Some

Started from Russia, Bombed A/D and then returned to base at Amendola. Col Allens last flight with the 97th. Heavy figher escort. 60 P-51's

6/13/1944

Turn back

42-30361

Gas syphonning from #1 tank had to turn back.

6/14/1944

Turn back

42-97437

Engineer took sick with cramps. Turned back.

6/15/1944

Cancelled due to bad weather

10+11

6/16/1944

Kargan Oil Refinery Kargan Hungary

42-30056

7:10

Wolf/Jergens

20-300#

26,300

Heavy

Heavy

Good bombing, good hits on target. Smoke to 20,000", flames to 2,000'. Most enemy fighters seen so far.

6/19/1944

Scrubbed, Returned due to bad weather

2:20

6/20/1944

Scrubbed, Returned due to bad weather

1:45

12

6/25/1944

Sete France, Oil Refinery and Storage facility

42-30470/ THE WOLF PACK

8:40

Wolf/Schaefeer

12-500#

23,000

Minor

None

Long trip over water, Could not drop bombs due to mechanical malfunction. Had to drop left side of aircraft to get bombs released. Mix up with the 463rd who cut off the 97th over the target.

13+14

6/27/1944

City of Budapest, Rakos Marshalling Yard

42-30470/ THE WOLF PACK

6:25

Wolf/Louden

20-250#

23,000

Moderate

Heavy

Briefed to hit Marshalling Yard but had over cast so bombed city instead. While flying through overcast met 30-40 enemy fighters head on in overcast. Enemy fired rockets and dropped bombs on formation. My ship was tired. Cracked windshield and many flak holes in ship.

15+16

7/2/1944

Alma-Fuzito Oil refinery

42-30470/ THE WOLF PACK

6:20

Wolf/Staley

12-500#

21,900

Heavy

Heavy

97th Bomb Groups 300th mission. On approach to the Oil refinery the Lead ships bombs did not drop so we had to circle for another pass. At that time the formation was jumped by between 20 - 30 fighters, (ME 210-410's). We then diverted to the alternate which was the Brod Marshalling Yards. Plane 056 was hit in #2 & 4 engines. He had to drop out of formation and the fighters jumped him. 7 chutes seen. Had 8th Air Force escort over target.

17+18

7/4/1944

Photogen Oil Refinery Brasov, Rumania

42-102918/ IDIOTS DELIGHT

7:20

Wolf/Bates

12-500#

23,000

Minor

None

Heavy Hits on target. Huge fireball upon bomb impact. Largest ever experienced.

19

7/5/1944

Montpellier Marshalling Yard, France

44-6183

8:25

Wolf/Rimer

6-1000#

23,000

Minor

None

Long trip over water, First mission with this brand new ship. Finished Co-Pilot Rimer with 50 missions.

20+21

7/7/1944

Blechammer Oil Refinery

42-30361

7:00

Wolf/Grogan

12-500#

23,500

Heavy

Heavy

First trip into old Germany. Fighters jumped the 2nd BG early. B-17 went down, saw 4 chutes in spin. Several Dog fights with our escort fighters. 2nd BG lost another Fort over target. Went straight down onto the target after being hit by flak. Flak very heavy and accurate over target. 20-25 fighters made several weak attacks. Had to feather #3 engine in Yugoslavia. Landed OK.

22+23

7/8/1944

Vosendorf Oil Refinery, Vienna

44-6188

6:30

Murphy/Wolf

12-500#

22,800

Heavy

Some

Bombing was very poor. Made a 360 turn over target. Flak very intense. Most that I have ever seen and had to fly through. 2nd Bomb Group lost a ship in flames before us over target. Smoke screen by target. Some fighters. Checked out for Element leader.

24+25

7/9/1944

Xenia Oil Refinery, Ploesti

44-6183

7:15

Windos/Wolf

12-500#

25,100

Heavy

None

Target Smoke screened. Very Good bomb run. Flak very accurate and Heavy. Heavy p-38 & P-51 escort. Best yet. Practiced for Element Leader.

26

7/13/1944

Cassara Railroad Bridge Italy

44-6183

5:55

Hars/Wolf

12-500#

18,500

Moderate

None

Primary target overcast so Paraded up and down over target. Then went on to secondary at Mestri and bombed Marshalling yard. Our Squadron brought bombs back. Bombs were HDX. 6 Flak hols in plane. I was hit by Flak but not hurt. Practice for Element lead.

27

15-Jul

Romano Oil Refinery Ploesti Rumania

44-6188

7:45

Murphy/Wolf

12-500#HDX

23,800

Heavy

None

Very Good Hits on target. Heavy column of smoke up to 20,000 feet. B-24 went down in flames over target. Hit by Flak had to feather #4. 5 Flak holes in aircraft. I was Element Leader

28

7/18/1944

Railroad Bridge ?

44-6183

5:55

Hars/Wolf

12-500#

21,000

None

None

Briefed to go to Munich but had weather recall so bombed alternate which was the RR bridge. 8 Direct Hits on bridge. 483rd lost 15 ships today at Munich.

29-30

7/19/1944

Milbertshoven Ordinance Depot Munich Germany

44-6274

7:45

Wolf/Bird

20-250#

21,900

Very Heavy

?

Hits on Target very good. Heavy loses. Flak intense over target. #918 caught fire and went down. #188 went down just missed both ships next to it. 6 chutes seen. 97th lead the Air force. I was tail end charlie in D Squadron. Highsmith had to drop to low altitude due to injured men. Kiem killed, Benson injured. #255 Pilot Louden lost leg and maybe arm. Parillo in #188 heavily damaged headed for Switzerland. 342nd lost 2 ships. 97th lost 4 total. #2 engine lost to Flak.

31-32

7/20/1944

Memmingen MA/D Munich Germany

44-6183

6:35

Wolf/Barrie

38 Frags

23,000

Moderate

Moderate

Good hits on A/D No fighters got near us. Great job done by P-38's. 5 Flak holes. Element lead.

33-34

7/21/1944

Brux Oil Refinery, Germany

44-6183

8:15

Wolf/Classic

20-250#

22,500

Moderate

?

Farthest distance traveled so far. Target was smoke covered. 3 Ships went down over target. 30 Gals of Gas left in each tank on return. Element Leader

35

7/22/1944

Romano Oil Refinery, Ploesti

42-102859/BABY

7:40

Wolf/ Hamilton

6-1000#

25,300

Very Heavy

?

Poor ship. Dropped 2 bombs 20 minutes early for power. Smoke screened target. 414th lost ship over target in flames. 2 Stragglers came off target after drop. Very Intense Flak for 20 minutes Close and accurate tracking. Large hole in ship under me. Element Leader

36

8/2/1944

Portes Lew Valences, France

44-6274

8:15

Wolf/Shilling

12-500#

23,500

Minor

None

Good hits on target. Flak accurate on coast coming out. #2 Element Lead.

37-38

8/3/1944

Mandell A/C shop, Friedrisckshafen Germany

44-6274

7:20

Wolf/Shilling

12-500#

25,000

Moderate

Moderate

All bombs missed target by 6000 feet. Mistake by lead bombardier. 10 holes in ship from Flak. Fighter escort knocked down 4 enemy fighters…good job. #2 Element Lead.

39

8/6/1944

Portes Lew Valances, France

44-6274

8:30

Wolf/Wilmot

12-500#

21,000

None

None

Good Hits on target. Long Haul. 2nd Element lead.

40-41

8/7/1944

Blechammer Oil Refinery

44-6274

8:05

Wolf/Berner

16-250#

27,800

Heavy

None

Good Hits on Target. Flack Heavy but inaccurate Do to altitude. No Fighters. Lead Squadron 2nd Element Lead.

42

8/10/1944

Romano Oil Refinery, Ploesti

44-6321

7:45

Wolf/Wilmot

20-250#

25,000

Very Heavy

?

Rough mission. Flak Very Heavy and Accurate. Aircraft heavily hit by flak. Flak knocked off pitot tube - no air speed indicator. Flak hit main spar left wing. Flak hole missed turbo by 1/4 inch. Smoke could be seen 200 miles from target rising to 20,000 feet. Target well hit.

8/11/1944

To Rome for Rest Camp

43-44

8/22/1944

Ordertal Oil Refinery, Germany

44-6274

8:05

Wolf/Berner

16-250#

27,800

Moderate

None

Good Hits on target. Flak was late coming up. Followed close on tail of 2nd bomb group and missed most of flak. Long Haul. 2nd Element Lead.

45-46

8/24/1944

Pardubice A/D Czechoslovakia

44-6339

8:10

Jones/Wolf

38-100# Frags

?

Light

Light

Flew Co-pilot ofr Colonel Jones. Long Double mission. Only 1 burst of Flak. Only 1 fighter that got a straggler from 341st. 2nd Element Leader.

47-48

8/27/1944

Blechammer Oil Refinery

44-6274

8:25

Wolf/Barrie

12-500#

26,000

Very Heavy

Heavy.

Rough mission on bomb run at 170 mph throttles then chopped off to 150. Every one overshot target in second wave. Bombs dropped all over area. Some ships bombed alternate target.

28-Aug

Moosbierbaum O/R Germany

44-6339

4:15

Wolf/Berner

8-500#

Last mission…Reached 16,000 feety over Yugoslavia and had to turn back. Had smoke coming from #4. Engine flew 30 minutes as not indication of mechanical trouble except for smoke. Found bad carburetor and that we burned so much gas we would not have had enough to make it back. Used 120 extra gallons of gas in 3 hours Salvoed bombs and landed.

49-50

8/29/1944

Bohman marshalling yards. Czechoslovakia

44-6339

8:45

Wolf/Berner

36-250#

28,500

Minor

None

Same ship as day before. Crew Chief had to last minute change amp regulator after run up. Then discovered leak in tail oxygen system. Made late take-off and joined formation in air at 12,000 feet. Picked alternate target of ?. Good hits on industrial area. Flak all low. 2nd Bomb group following us lost 9 ships to fighters over target area. Last mission. 2nd Element leader.