483rd bg July 18 1944

[digiartist]

Hi,


I was wondering if anyone could help regarding details of the 483rd's B-17s that took part of the Memmingen raid of July 18th 1944.
Photos of nose art would be fantastic, but even some information of the aircraft that took part would be incredibly welcome.


Thanks in advance!

[researcher111]

Except nose arts which are not available can you address more clearly what are your needs as into the 14 Forts lost on Memingen raid ?


Alex K

[digiartist]

Hi Alex,


Yes, sure. I'm an aviation artist and I'm looking to potentially paint a scene depicting the day's events as a personal project, so I'm looking to get a clearer idea of the identity of the B-17s involved for accuracy. There's a fair amount of visual reference available for Jg3 but not so much for the 483rd in terms of individual markings.


cheers


Gareth

[Zoran Petek]

Here is info on B-17s lost (MACR, serial, group, squadron)
6856 42-107179 483 816
6953 42-107008 483 816
6954 42-102862 483 817
6975 44-6174 483 816
6976 42-97671 483 816
6977 42-102382 483 817
6978 42-107170 483 817
6979 42-102923 483 817
6980 42-102927 483 815
6981 42-97584 483 816
7097 44-6267 483 817
7098 42-102422 483 816
7099 44-6177 483 815
7153 42-107172 483 816

[digiartist]

Thank you Zoran for that :-)

[researcher111]

Yes those are the Forts in question , the history book descrbing briefly the Memingen mission with no too many details.


Alex K

[Joerg Dietsche]

Gareth,

in 2013 I found a piece of rudder or elevator painted in red of the B-17G, serial 42-97584, 483rd BG, pilot 2nd Lt Hommel, at the crash site Kimratshofen west of Kempten.


Regards
Jörg

[digiartist]

Thank you Alex.


Jörg, what an incredible find and what a sad reminder of the cost associated with these dates that we take an interest in.
Thank you also for your additional information, it's much appreciated.


Best Regards,


Gareth

[Rottler]

Hello Jörg,

according to the reports of the Air Base Command Kaufbeuren to Dulag (Luft) Oberursel the crash site of the B-17 42-97584 was Memhölz, 8 km south of Kempten on the highway Kempten-Immenstadt at 10.30 o’clock, casualty number ME 1680.

Regards
Leo

[Buckeye30]

Hi Gareth. This is a typical B-17G from the July period at the time the group was applying red rudders and elevators ( not tailplanes); there were no squadron identifiers but some planes in the group had coloured cowlings or chin turrets, the Fifteenth being more liberal in use of markings than the Eighth.There are colour photos showing red and yellow. Note this block ( G-35-DL) still had the older tail gun position though a few had the Cheyenne turret retro-fitted; the 483rd also had some older camouflaged planes into 1945.( all these 14 were unpainted). The last digit was painted on the rudder.
5 of the 14 lost had nicknames but havn't seen any photos ( may not have been marked on some).
Nick