19th Dec 1944, Bad Kreuznach

[joost900]

Hello all,

I am asking this on behave of someone whose English isn't very good.

He wanted to know which unit attacked Bad Kreuznach on Dec 19th 1944.
Reason for his interest, he was born during the raid in a shelter.

I have found both 1st and 2nd AD were airborne but attacked targets more to the west of Bad Kreuznach.
Perhaps 9th AF?

Regards,
Joost de Raaf

[Larry deZeng]

Hi J.d.R.,

There was no 8th AAF bomber or fighter activity over Bad Kreuznach on 19 December due to appallingly bad flying weather. That leaves 9th AAF. It did fly a few missions on the 19th, but I do not have the details. I think you will need to find the 9th AAF daily reports for that date. Hopefully, someone here has them. As I understand it, the 9th AAF twin-engine bombers did not operate that date but some of the single-engine fighter bombers did. Trier was bombed by 34 RAF Lancasters on the 19th, but not Bad Kreuznach.

L.

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

Hi J.d.R.,

There was no 8th AAF bomber or fighter activity over Bad Kreuznach on 19 December due to appallingly bad flying weather. That leaves 9th AAF. It did fly a few missions on the 19th, but I do not have the details. I think you will need to find the 9th AAF daily reports for that date. Hopefully, someone here has them. As I understand it, the 9th AAF twin-engine bombers did not operate that date but some of the single-engine fighter bombers did. Trier was bombed by 34 RAF Lancasters on the 19th, but not Bad Kreuznach.

L.

Joost900 & Larry

No, there is another posibility. Between the areas of responsibility of the 9th AF (Northwest) and the 12th AF (South) was a little strip which was in the responsibility of 1st Tactical Air Force (provisionel), supporting 7th U.S. Army. On December 19th, 1944, 320th Bomb Group (M) and 17th Bomb Group (M) could well have attacked Bad Kreuznach. On the other hand, it is well documented, that 320th BG attacked that day Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, which is located in the general area.


best wishes

Horst Weber

[joost900]

Hello Larry & Horst, both thank you very much for your replies.
I will pass this info to him and perhaps it does ring a bell.

Regards
Joost

[joost900]

Hello,

Would anyone have a E-mail adress for 17th BG historian please?

regards
Joost

[Larry deZeng]

Try this book, or try contacting the author of this book, William Baird. The veteran's association for this Group seems to have disbanded so there would no longer be a Group historian now?

http://www.amazon.com/17th-Bomb-Grou...385778-2396165