Like Erich and Bill said, may have the date wrong...
http://paul.rutgers.edu/~mcgrew/wwii/usaf/Nov.44
THURSDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 1944
Mission 698: 1,174 bombers and 968 fighters in 5 forces are dispatched to
hit synthetic oil installations in C Germany and rail targets at Bielefeld,
Germany; an estimated 500 Luftwaffe fighters meet the bombers at Merseburg
and the AAF claims 163-40-52 Luftwaffe aircraft; 40 bombers and 16 fighters
are lost:
1. 460 B-17s are dispatched to the Leuna oil installation at Merseburg
(383) using PFF; targets of opportunity are Halle (23), Wolfenbuttel (13) and
other (17); they claim 6-2-2 aircraft; 12 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond
repair and 339 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 13 WIA and 101 MIA. The Ninth AF
provides 31 of 34 P-38s and 433 of 483 P-51s as escort; they claim 46-3-10
aircraft in the air and 25-0-0 on the ground; 8 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).
2. 223 B-17s are dispatched to the Leuna oil installation at Merseburg
(210) using PFF; 5 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 30-33-25
aircraft; 26 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 152 damaged; 11
airmen are WIA and 260 MIA. Escort is provided by 209 of 245 P-51s; they
claim 56-2-15 aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost (5 pilots MIA).
3. 208 B-24s are dispatched to hit Bielefeld; 172 hit the primary, a
bridge, 10 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard, and 9 hit the town; all
attacks are with GH and visual; 17 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by
143 of 146 P-47s; 2 P-47s are lost.
4. 131 of 146 B-24s hit the Rauxel oil installations at Castrop using GH; 1
B-24 is lost and 23 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is
provided by 37 of 40 P-47s without loss.
5. 137 B-17s are dispatched to hit an oil installation at Sterkrade (107);
20 others hit the secondary, the Rheine marshalling yard; 1 B-17s is lost and
52 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 20 of 20 P-47s without
loss.
SATURDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 1944
Eighth Air Force): Mission 712: 482 bombers and 367
fighters make PFF attacks on oil refineries and marshalling yards in W
Germany; 1 bomber and 1 fighter are lost:
1. 197 B-17s are sent to hit the Oberlahnstein marshalling yard (146); 24
hit the secondary, the Koblenz marshalling yard; 2 hit a target of
opportunity; 1 B-17s is damaged beyond repair and 31 damaged; 1 airman is
KIA. Escorting are 170 P-47s and P-51s without loss.
2. 129 B-17s are sent to hit the Buer oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen (100);
23 hit the secondary, the Rheine marshalling yard; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond
repair and 1 damaged; 7 airmen are KIA. Escorting are 52 P-51s; 1 is lost.
3. 143 B-24s are sent to hit the Bottrop oil refinery (124); 1 hit
Recklinghausen, a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 39 damaged; 10
airmen are MIA. Escorting are 98 P-47s and P-51s.
