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 Summary

Navigator's flight plan completed by Lt. David M. Williams for the first bombing mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, on August 17, 1943, for a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the US Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force, 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy).

 Biographical / Historical

During World War II,the 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was an Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress unit in England, stationed at RAF Ridgewell. The group had the highest losses of all groups during the first Schweinfurt mission on August 17, 1943.

 Identifier

NASM.XXXX.1062

Creator

Williams, David M.

Date

1943

Provenance

Col. David M. Williams, Gift, 1962, NASM.XXXX.1062

Extent

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the navigator's flight plan for the first bombing mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, on August 17, 1943, for a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the US Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force, 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy). The chart was filled in by the navigator, Lt. David M. Williams. Crew is listed as Col. Gross and Lt. Col. Worzbach (pilots), and Lt. D. M. Williams and Lt. Adams (navigators). The top half of the chart records the flight plan with waypoints and navigational headings and notes such as "P-47's coming back" and "Spits." The bottom half records navigation information made during the flight and notes such as "Tell Radio To get off air" and "Bombs Away." The reverse of the form, which provides additional space for in-flight observations, has not been used.

Arrangement note

Collection is a single item.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

Schweinfurt Navigation Chart, NASM.XXXX.1062, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics, Military

World War, 1939-1945

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Navigation charts