VIII Bomber Command 97
16 September 1943The mission was to Nantes, France.
Photo research
Description
This mission is composed of two elements: Bomb Groups from 1st Bomb Division and Bomb groups from 3rd Bomb Division. The first element is a combined force of 147 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 303BG (19); 305BG (16); 351BG (19); 379BG (19); 381BG (20); and 384BG (18). The primary targets for this mission are: the port facilities and German airfield Chateau Bougon at Nantes, France. The attacks will be made at approximately 1500hrs. 79 aircraft are effective on the port area and 51 aircraft are effective on th airfield. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 24KIA, 20POW, 16EVD, and 10RTD (Rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft is declared a Category E loss (Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR); 47 aircraft are damaged and 9 airmen are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners of this element claim 22-2-5 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element is a combined force of 148 B-17s from: 95BG (24); 96BG (20); 100BG (19); 388BG (18); 390BG (24); 94BG (21); and 385BG (22). The original target for this element was the aircraft factories at Bordeux, France, but cloud cover obscures the target and the formations seek out other targets: the port area of La Paillice; the German airfields of Larochelle/Laleau and Cognac/Chateaubernard, France. The Bomb Groups took off just before Noon and planned to attack at approximately 1530hrs, however weather problems and diversion to other targets delayed the attacks to 1730-1755hrs. This meant that the aircraft would be returning to their bases after dark. Neither 390BG or 385BG were able to find alternate targets and did not bomb. 93 aircraft were effective on the alternate targets. 4 aircraft are MIA; 12KIA 20POW 8RTD (Rescued by ASR). In addition, 3 other aircraft made crash landings in England 11KIA 5WIA also (1 B-17F 42-30601 "Mary Ellen II", 385BG/had a mid-air collision (10KIA) with B-17F 42-30201, 95BG (RTB)), another 4 airmen were Wounded in Action (WIA) in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners in this element claim 22-3-8 of attacking German fighters.
Mission Details
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Despatch from 390th Bomb Group and 385th Bomb Group had no aircraft effective on the target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 52.50
- People killed in action: 20
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 21
- Aircraft effective: 21
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 7
Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: The bomber gunner claims for the combined force of B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division has been included under this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 179.25
- People wounded in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 22
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 8
- Aircraft sent: 127
- Aircraft effective: 72
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 10
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 151.00
- People killed in action: 14
- People wounded in action: 5
- Prisoners of war: 9
- People returned to duty: 13
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 1 B-17 drops 12 X500GP on a convoy - no hits. Two Missing in Action (MIA) aircraft from 379th Bomb Group were hit by aerial bombs dropped by enemy aircraft. Bomber gunner claims for both formations attacking targets at Nantes are included in the statisics for this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 233.96
- People killed in action: 24
- People wounded in action: 3
- People evaded: 16
- Prisoners of war: 19
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 22
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 5
- Aircraft sent: 96
- Aircraft effective: 79
- Aircraft missing in action: 7
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 47
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 151.04
- Aircraft sent: 51
- Aircraft effective: 51
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 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18019453
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32424605
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734654
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-731474
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-675567
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Snoozin Susan
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Buck-Shot
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Flap Raiser aka The Venus
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Battlin bobbie
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims for 3rd Bomb DIvision formations to the La Pallice statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims for the entire Nantes attack to the statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added Mission description basedon "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger 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'.