Longest bomber raid of war

Here's a few to be going with.
159 Squadron October 1944, mine laying trip to Penang 18+ hours over 3,000 miles
356 Squadron December 1944 14 hours in KH354/F to Phu Lang Thuong, French Indo-China - 2674 miles
355/356 Squadrons November 1944 twenty one Liberators from both squadrons bombed the jetty and harbour facilities at Khao Huagang. This raid was a notable achievement in that it was the longest bombing mission, over 2500 air miles.

I have more they will just take time to dig up if you need more information.

RAF Liberators said:

Here's a few to be going with.
159 Squadron October 1944, mine laying trip to Penang 18+ hours over 3,000 miles
356 Squadron December 1944 14 hours in KH354/F to Phu Lang Thuong, French Indo-China - 2674 miles
355/356 Squadrons November 1944 twenty one Liberators from both squadrons bombed the jetty and harbour facilities at Khao Huagang. This raid was a notable achievement in that it was the longest bombing mission, over 2500 air miles.

I have more they will just take time to dig up if you need more information.

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I want to know the starting airfields and return points. And the final one is inaccurate. It is a 2500 mile round trip. Not even the B29's could do a 5000 mile mission.

I want to know the starting airfields and return points. And the final one is inaccurate. It is a 2500 mile round trip. Not even the B29's could do a 5000 mile mission.

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I'm sorry but who the hell do you think you are? This isn't an interrogation, if you want something I suggest you try a bit of civility, try saying please. Then I will take the time to pour through the copies of the factual documents that i hold and then maybe I'll give you the answers you've asked for.
"Here's a few to be going with" is an indication that it was a starting point. I suppose you want names and service numbers of the crews as well?
I just typed it up as it came from the records books, I don't know if it was a round trip or not, I'll try to find out.

RAF Liberators said:

I'm sorry but who the hell do you think you are? This isn't an interrogation, if you want something I suggest you try a bit of civility, try saying please. Then I will take the time to pour through the copies of the factual documents that i hold and then maybe I'll give you the answers you've asked for.
"Here's a few to be going with" is an indication that it was a starting point. I suppose you want names and service numbers of the crews as well?
I just typed it up as it came from the records books, I don't know if it was a round trip or not, I'll try to find out.

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Youre right ... "please"

I knew that there were some long missions by B29's flying from India. The longest one I found was the 444th BG that bombed the Straights of Johore.

February 27, 1945 Johore Straits, Maylay States
3841 miles…10 aircraft hit primary target. Night mission at 4,000 feet…55 aerial mines on target…Results were excellent.

There were several other missions to Singapore that was slightly less miles. Either way, this was probably the longest WW2 bombing mission.

444th Bomb Group - 444th Home

I'm sorry but are you talking about B-29's or B-24's if it's B-29's then yeah no chance of B-24's competing with them.
I got the references from personal accounts and log books, i'll cross reference them with the Operations Records books to get you more info.
I'm pretty certain that the RAF held the longest B-24 mission, I just need to find the details again.

RAF Liberators said:

I think you'll find it's one from 99 Squadron as the Collings Lib is ex No. 99 Squadron RAF, I believe.
356 Squadron also have Ops 18+ hours, I've got all the Ops records for 99/355/356 Squadrons (and many others) I'll have a poke around if anyone "really" wants to know.

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Don't go out of your way, but it would be fun to know. KH191 I think was the serial number with the RAF. I only ask cause I fly the thing. My longest leg in her was around 31/2 hours...that was longer than my bladder reserve!

thanks
jim

RAF Liberators said:

I'm sorry but are you talking about B-29's or B-24's if it's B-29's then yeah no chance of B-24's competing with them.
I got the references from personal accounts and log books, i'll cross reference them with the Operations Records books to get you more info.
I'm pretty certain that the RAF held the longest B-24 mission, I just need to find the details again.

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That is because he is asking for the longest mission in the PTO and the longest in the ETO, regardless of type or nationality.

Longest in the PTO and war overall probably is going to be a mission by the B-29. ETO is still up in the air.

JIm, I think the Russian shuttle missons were "Operation Frantic". Don't know the total distance.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/day-war-europe-65-years-ago-6116-95.html#post522094

21 June 1944
GERMANY: Operation 'Frantic': 145 of 163 US Eighth Air Force B-17s begin shuttle bombing missions (Operation FRANTIC) between the UK and bases in the USSR; 72 P-38 Lightnings, 38 P-47 Thunderbolts and 57 P-51 Mustangs escort the B-17s to the target (synthetic oil plant at Ruhland, Germany); 123 B-17s bomb the primary target, 21 bomb Elsteriverda and a lone B-17 bombs Riesa due to a bomb rack malfunction; after the attack, the supporting P-51s are relieved 50 miles (80 km) SE of Poznan, Poland by 65 other P-51s which are to accompany the B-17s to the USSR; 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Brest Litovsk, 20 to 30 Luftwaffe fighters attack the force; in the resulting battle a P-51 and six German fighters are destroyed; a B-17 is lost (to unknown causes) on the flight; 144 B-17s land in the USSR, 73 at Poltava, and the rest at Mirgorod; the 64 remaining P-51s land at Piryatin. During the night of 21/22 June the 73 B-17s which earlier landed at Poltava are attacked for two hours by an estimated 75 German bombers led by aircraft dropping flares; 47 B-17s are destroyed and most of the remainder severely damaged; heavy damage is also suffered by stores of fuel and ammunition.



Anybody know the distance for the Doolittle Raid or which B-25 flew the longest in it?

The Frantic missions distances were dictated in part on the endurance of the escorting fighters. While the P38's and P51's in the PTO were capable of some really long distance missions, that was in part due to the unique enviornment of the the theater, where the fighters could use a mission profile to conserve fuel to and from the target.

The fighters in the ETO didnt have that luxury.

syscom3 said:

The Frantic missions distances were dictated in part on the endurance of the escorting fighters. While the P38's and P51's in the PTO were capable of some really long distance missions, that was in part due to the unique enviornment of the the theater, where the fighters could use a mission profile to conserve fuel to and from the target.

The fighters in the ETO didnt have that luxury.

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Syscom - true. OTH the mission profile enabled the Mustangs to cruise at optimal from UK to western Poland or Czechoslovakia where they would relieve the Penetration escorts. When my father led the Frantic VII escorts the R/V with the 4th FG was around the Stettin/Torun area and then to Warsaw and Piryatin. I don't know how far the mission was in exact mileage but he had 8 hours in log book.

The 355th also flew one of the longest missions in the ETO on May 13 to Posnan and back ~ 1425 miles. I think that ETO record was broken later by the 20th or 55th when they still had P-38s.

Christ! 8 hours sitting in one position in minus freezing temps, sweaty face masks, smells and thats just inside the machine! My hats off to them!