VIII Bomber Command 89
2 September 1943Back L-R: Dennis Lane (BT), Roland Killin (FG), Aloysius Mizgorski (FG), John Ryberg (B), Leonard Nealis (TT). Front L-R: Jerome Beaupre (RO), Lt. Sidney Taylor (OBS/TG), James Kelly (CP), Capt. Raymond Ketelsen (P), Wilbourne Blount (N)
The Quentin Bland Collection. https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/35734/category/LeadCrews
Description
This mission was composed of five elements. The first element was combined force 55 B-17s despatched from: 92BG; 305BG, and 306BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.
The second element is a formation of 57 B-17s despatched from: 91BG; 351BG; and 381BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.
The third element is a formation of 55 B-17s despatched from: 303BG; 379BG; and 384BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.
The fourth element is a formation of 66 B-17s despatched from: 95BG; 100BG; and 390BG 384BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.
The fifth element is a formationn of 66 B-17s from 94BG (21); 385BG (21); 96BG (21) and 388BG (23) despatched to bomb German airfields in NW. France. 94BG and 385BG are unable to bomb because of cloud cover. 18 aircraft from 96BG are able to bomb the German airfield of Mardyck as a target of opportunity and 23 aircraft are able to bomb the German airfield of Denain/Prouvy, France as a target of opportunity. There are no losses or claims but 2 B-17s are damaged and 2 airmen are wounded.
Mission Details
RECALLED
Description: AIRFIELDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Mission recalled because of cloud cover.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 66
ABORTED
Description: AIRFIELDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Mission aborted at French coast due to heavy cloud cover. 3 separate elements of 3 each bomb groups were despatched.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 96
DENAIN/PROUVY (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 101.00
- People wounded in action: 2
- Aircraft sent: 44
- Aircraft effective: 34
- Aircraft damaged: 9
MARDYCK (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Mission recalled because of cloud cover.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 42
- Aircraft damaged: 9
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793713
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37111609
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32478396
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-52478
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-399782
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stella
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fifi | Old Battle Axe
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Winsome Winn II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Dallas Rebel
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Short Stride : Loma Lee : TS
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 29-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A, Freeman.
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.