Mission

Mission 154

7 February 1945 · Vienna Schwechat oil refinery

Date: 7 February 1945
Target as printed: Vienna, Austria Schwechat oil refinery
Aircraft lost: 1
Sources: assoc-mission-summary (row 154)

Target

Vienna Schwechat oil refinery Schwechat, Austria · oil · 48.140, 16.470

Aircraft lost

43-38503 · 817th · MACR 12128

Photographs and loss sheets of this mission

Heading For Its Target, The Vienna Schwechat Oil Refineries In Austria, Are Bombs From One Of The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 15Th AF That Attacked This One Of The Few Remaining Sources Of Oil Left To The Hun In Europe, On 7 Feb. 1945. Lack Of O · 7 February 1945National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04991-61599AC

Loss sheet or report scan for B-17 43-38503, mission 154 Vienna, Austria · 7 February 1945 (5 scans) · view at 15thaf.org

These pictures stay on the sites that hold them and are shown here by link only, until their owners say they may be copied.

Missing Air Crew Reports

Missing Air Crew Report 12128, page 1: B-17 43-38503 · 7 February 1945National Archives, Missing Air Crew Report 12128

Missing Air Crew Report 12128, page 2: B-17 43-38503 · 7 February 1945National Archives, Missing Air Crew Report 12128

The target on other days

Bombing Of Heinkel Factory--Airdrome Schwechat. Schwechat, Austria, 24 May 44.National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A05031-116246AC

Bombing Of Schwechat, Austria, 24 May 44National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04966-116231AC

Considerable fresh damage has been inflicted on installations and buildings at various points in the refinery. Much of the damage was caused by fire.-Vienna, Austria.National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04983-52557AC

Oil storage tanks and various installations were destroyed or damaged.-Vienna, Austria.National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04984-52558AC

A heavy concentration of hits has caused extensive fresh damage throughout the entire installation.-Vienna, Austria.National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04985-52559AC

Nova Schwecat Plant Near Vienna, Austria, Was Hit By 15Th Air Force Bombers And Seriously Damaged In March 1944. After The Attack On June 16 On Five Oil Refineries Near Vienna All Of Them Were Made Inactive, And Smoke Rose More Than Three Miles Over Vien · 19 July 1944National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04976-116233AC

Here is Bratislava as the first bombs began to pin-point the target. The refinery is 100 miles east of Vienna, which was attacked the same day.National Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A26619-60393AC

Despite A Flak Filled Sky, This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 15Th Air Force Makes Its Way Toward The Oil Refinery At Schwecat, Vienna, Austria On February 14, 1945. Neither Flak, Snow Or Cold Weather Can Stop The Heavies Of The 15Th Air Force FroNational Archives Catalog (RG 342-FH) · U.S. Air Force photograph 342-FH-3A04843-59806AC

Statements from the loss reports

Eyewitness statement, page 4 · 7 February 1945

OPERATIONS
817th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Office of the Operations Officer
8 February, 1945.
STATEMENT
Just after the bomb run I saw a ship lagging behind. I
looked for Ship 503, but could not find it. This ship was, or
had lost altitude. when I saw it, and later I heard the tail
gunner say it turned for the Russian lines. I looked and saw or
thought I could see him. Thats all I observed.
W.E. Spragre
W.E. Sprague, 19205777,
s/Sgt. Ball Turret,
Crew No. 720.

National Archives, MACR 12128, page 4 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

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