Walter Zabower's 25 Missions
During World War II, the 385th Bombardment Group (Heavy), and the Mission Belle (along with the lesser known Memphis Belle and Liberty Belle) was an 8th Air Force squadron stationed at RAF Great Ashfield, England along with the rest of the 549th Squadron. Inclusive of completing the mandatory 25 missions (for Walter's tour...requirements would change as the war languished on), the group also led the famous attack on the FW-190 facility at Marienburg in East Prussia on 9 October 1943 and was also a part of the Schweinfurt ball-bearing factory raid 14 October 1943 - two thirds of the entire town of Schweinfurt was destroyed during this action and subsequent missions. Constituted as the 549th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 25 November 1942 - Activated on 1 December 1942. Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Group C/O during Walter's tour: Col. Elliot Vandevanter
Total Bomb Tonnage Dropped: 18,494 Tons ; Aircraft MIA: 129; Enemy Kills: Unknown (many)
07/17/43 - Amsterdam Holland ***The Groups First Mission
07/24/43 - Bergen Norway
07/25/43 - Rostock Germany
07/26/43 - Hanover Germany
07/28/43 - Oschersleben Germany
08/12/43 - Bonn Germany
08/15/43 - Vitry France
08/17/43 - Regensburg Germany ***Distinguished Unit Citation
08/24/43 - Bordeaux France
09/6/43 - Dieppe France
09/07/43 - Beauvais France
09/23/43 - Kerlin France
09/27/43 - Essence Germany
10/02/43 - Emden Germany
10/09/43 - Marienburg East Prussia
10/14/43 - Schweinfurt Germany *** Walter Zabower ME-110 Kill Confirmed / Distinguished Unit Citation
10/18/43 - Duren Germany
10/20/43 - Duren Germany
11/03/43 - Wilhelmshaven Germany
11/05/43 - Gelsenkirchen Germany
11/16/43 - Rjuken Norway
11/19/43 - Gelsenkirchen Germany
11/26/43 - Paris France
11/29/43 - Bremen Germany *** Walter Zabower Purple Heart
12/11/43 - Emden Germany
The Mission Belle is known to have crashed on 4 April 1944 near Kristianopel (Molle Hall?) while piloted by Duane Pangle.
The crew survived and were in custody for the remainder of the war. The plane was ultimately scrapped.
I am actively seeking any physical pieces of the Mission Belle...
07/24/43 - Bergen Norway
07/25/43 - Rostock Germany
07/26/43 - Hanover Germany
07/28/43 - Oschersleben Germany
08/12/43 - Bonn Germany
08/15/43 - Vitry France
08/17/43 - Regensburg Germany ***Distinguished Unit Citation
08/24/43 - Bordeaux France
09/6/43 - Dieppe France
09/07/43 - Beauvais France
09/23/43 - Kerlin France
09/27/43 - Essence Germany
10/02/43 - Emden Germany
10/09/43 - Marienburg East Prussia
10/14/43 - Schweinfurt Germany *** Walter Zabower ME-110 Kill Confirmed / Distinguished Unit Citation
10/18/43 - Duren Germany
10/20/43 - Duren Germany
11/03/43 - Wilhelmshaven Germany
11/05/43 - Gelsenkirchen Germany
11/16/43 - Rjuken Norway
11/19/43 - Gelsenkirchen Germany
11/26/43 - Paris France
11/29/43 - Bremen Germany *** Walter Zabower Purple Heart
12/11/43 - Emden Germany
The Mission Belle is known to have crashed on 4 April 1944 near Kristianopel (Molle Hall?) while piloted by Duane Pangle.
The crew survived and were in custody for the remainder of the war. The plane was ultimately scrapped.
I am actively seeking any physical pieces of the Mission Belle...