Memorial

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The mission was to divert Luftwaffe fighters from heading southwards to intercept the main mission – which was targeting aviation manufacturers and German bases within Germany during Big Week.

When the bomber formation arrives at Aalborg, visual bombing is not possible due to heavy cloud cover. The crews circle the city, twice. Radio messages are exchanged between lead crews over what to do. A decision is made to follow the briefing recommendation to drop the bombs safely over the sea, as no secondary target had been highlighted.

At 14.42 Oberleutnant Hans Hermann Müller in a Ju-88 of 10 NJG3 attacks "Hot Rock" and shoots it down. The aircraft is last seen heading out to sea heading in the direction of Sweden, but appears out of control. At one stage a crewman bales out but his parachute snags on the badly damaged aircraft. Lt Muller could only look on in horror as efforts are made by men on the aircraft to retrieve their colleague, with Lt. Muller radioing its position as it disappears into the cloud. No trace was found of the B-17 crew. All ten crew members are reported missing in action.

Only Lt Wolf is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. The other crew members are remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial of Cambridge.