The 390th’s first mission August 12, 1943, was to Bonn, Germany which Uncle John
and his crew flew on. The flight of aircraft 23327 “Tet T Mote “ would be
one of 14 the plane would make.
On October 14, 1943, the 390th Bomb Group flew to Schweinfurt, Germany
with the 13th Air Wing. The mission to Schweinfurt would become one of the most infamous
missions of the Eighth Air Force along with Regensburg and Munster. The Schweinfurt
mission’s objective was to destroy a major ball bearing manufacturing facility. Of
291 aircraft only 228 reached the target. 60 B-17’s were lost. While the 8th suffered
heavy losses the Luftwaffe’s was worse; 186 planes destroyed, 89 others hit. The
devastation to the VKF Werke was massive. The 390th Bombardment Group would earn a
Presidential Unit Citation for their outstanding performance in the Schweinfurt mission.
Flyers still debate today, which was worse, the enemy fighters or the flak as thick as pea
soup.
The Tet T Mote crew after the Schweinfurt mission (note mission count in bombs).
The Schweinfurt mission would be John Asmussen’s last with the beloved
Tet T Mote’. On October 21, 1943, while flown by another crew the plane crash-landed
and was rendered non repairable and salvaged for parts.
Uncle John flew 15 missions with the 390th. In addition to “Tet”
he flew Shatzi and Rick O Shay. As an indication of the hazards involved, Uncle John flew
Shatzi on September 15, 1943. On October 20th enemy fire split the plane
in half, and it crashed in Hergonbosch. Two crewmembers were killed, one escaped, and all
the rest were captured. He flew Rick O Shay on October 9, 1943. On October 10th
Shatzi ditched in the North Atlantic and all on board were captured.
