96th BG aircraft "Frantic II" ?

[MW Giles]

Snetterton Falcons 96th BG p285

413 Sqn, Lead 1 #698 MZ-L Knox/Hand Sal July
337 Sqn, Lead 2 #625 AW-B Bope Destroyed
337 Sqn, Lead 3 #530 AW-D Hooper Destroyed
337 Sqn, Lead 4 #227 AW-E Leininger Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c 2107227)
337 Sqn, Lead 5 #137 AW-H Gray Repaired (Crashed 1945)
337 Sqn, Lead 6 #160 AW-L Atwood Destroyed
337 Sqn, Lead 7 #781 AW-R Schram Destroyed

339 Sqn, High 1 #641 QJ-K Seeman Destroyed
339 Sqn, High 2 #603 QJ-B Harvey Repaired later
339 Sqn, High 3 #686 QJ-M Hodson Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #2102686)
339 Sqn, High 4 #881 QJ-N Yoder Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #297881)
339 Sqn, High 5 #950 QJ-S Anderson Destroyed
339 Sqn, High 6 #952 QJ-D Estle Pilot and co-pilot KIA (a/c OK)
339 Sqn, High 7 #653 QJ-A Barton Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #2102653)

338 Sqn, Low 1 #158 BX-D Lawson-Good Repaired later
338 Sqn, Low 2 #670 BX-Q Wighaman Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #2102670)
338 Sqn, Low 3 #116 BX-B Booth Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 4 #573 BX-T Swanbergh Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 5 #903 BX-Z Stenseth Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 6 #081 BX-K Crownover Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 7 #701 BX-M Bryer Destroyed

Spares
337 Sqn AW-Q Lichtenegger
338 Sqn BX-A Lyle
338 Sqn BX-N Huguley
338 Sqn BX-J Horn

Standby
337 AW-J
339 QJ-G
338 BX-F

25 a/c took off, but the four spares returned to Snetterton, leaving the 21 a/c to go to Ruhland
Putting up spares allows the formation to be maintained if there is an early return, but must have been hard on the crews who take off not knowing whether they are going on the op or not

All the losses appear to be on the ground in USSR. All the B-17s are lined up and close together, which is asking for trouble

Hope the list helps

Martin