USAAF Official Photograph Warne Munde Air Raid July 1943

[muckaroon1960]

Added this original official press release photograph (8" x 10") to my collection taken from a B17 some 5 miles high above a German Fighter Training base at Warne Munde (District of Rostock, Baltic Sea). Top of photo shows heavy bomb bursts on hangers, admin blocks and cadet barracks. The Mighty Eighth War Diary* 25th July 1943 shows 4th Bomb Wing primary target as Warne Munde. Bomb Groups taking part in this mission was 94, 95, 96, 100, 385 & 388 BG with 4 aircraft lost with 40 crew MIA. 1 crew KIA and 3 wounded. Records show that 6 enemy aircraft were shot down. 500 general purpose and 100 incendiary bombs were dropped in various raids which included other key targets at Kiel, Hamburg and Rerik/West Airfield. One 94BG ditched with the crew rescued and another 96BG B17 crash landed at RAF Little Snoring with all crew safe. **==
94BG Bury St Edmonds.
95BG Horham.
96BG Snetterton Heath.
100BG Thorpe Abbots.
385BG Great Ashfield.
388BG Knettishall.

* The Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A Freeman 1981 Jane's Publishing Co. N.Y.

[Tailgunnerdownunder]

Great thread Paul. Certainly a unique piece of WW2 photographic history. Regards Mark

[Christopher Ailsby]

Paul, a great thread. I have interest because the area round Peterborough was where the bases were. My mother was an ambulance driver, 5 feet nothing driving a Dodge 6 wheeler. She took the very badly wounded to the RAF Hospital in Ely.

[Andyb]

Great Paul :thumbsup: I wouldn’t have liked to be on the receiving end of those big boys. :shock:
Even today when we visit anywhere in England, I still look out to see if I can find any old air bases and imagine them being in their full prime.

[Christopher Ailsby]

Andy, there are still some old sites around.Upwood Glatton, Allconberry, to name but 3.

[The Devils Bank]

Those bursts on the ground point to direct hits, that base has been destroyed?

I went to Thorpes Abbott airbase a while ago now, stood in the Control Tower, and was shown the direction of the aircraft coming home, came in.

Sadly, a airman, on one occasion, was taking pictures of B17's taking off and forming up in the air, from the Control Tower.

Suddenly, two B17's collided as he continued to take a set of pictures, he had caught it all on camera.

Fully loaded with fuel and bombs, the two planes exploded and plummeted to the ground. All crew members were killed. :(

I was shown the actual pictures (donated to the Museum) and stood in the same spot as the airman did, all those years ago.

Well worth a visit! :thumbsup: