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26 September 1943
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3352) nicknamed "Virgin's Delight" flies in formation with fellow aircraft of the 94th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: ''53031 AC - Boeing B-17's in flight revealing new bomb racks U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO - 1361st Photographic Squadron Aerospace Audio-Visual Services (MAC).' First handwritten caption on reverse: '26/9 no Bombing- weather. 26/9/43' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 Flying Fortress 6737. 3 of 6 pics.'
Not yet known
This mission was composed of four elements. The first element was a combined force of 55 B-17s from 91BG (19); 381BG (18); and 351BG (18) that were dispatched to attack industrial targets in and around Paris, France. As the formation approached the enemy coast the weather deteriorated and the element was recalled There were no losses or claims by this element, but 9 aircraft were damaged, one beyond repair.
The second element was a combined force of 84 B-17s dispatched from: 94BG (18); 96BG (22); 385BG (23); and 388BG (21) to bomb the German airfield at Reims/Champagne. Clouds and weather frustrated the bombing effort. The 18 from 94BG and the 23 from 385BG were unable to bomb. 40 aircraft were effective on the target. 1 aircraft sustained a mid-air collision over Bulphan, UK 10KIA 1RTD (parachuted). 1 other was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR).
The third element was a combined force of 63 B-17s from 95BG (21); 100BG (21); 390BG (21) dispatched to bomb the vehicle factories at Meulon Les Mureaux and Citroen, France. This formation was also recalled due to weather. There were no aircraft losses or claims, but one airman was KIA in a returning aircraft.
The fourth element was a formation of 37 B-24s from 44BG (3) and 392BG (24) that were dispatched to fly a diversion for the formations which were to attack Paris and these were also recalled. There were no losses or claims.
DIVERSION
B-24 Liberator
Not yet known
Group
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group allocated B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 series fitted with a nose turret on the production line. The adaptation increased...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 37 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 0 |
MEULON LES MUREAUX and CITROEN FACTORIES
B-17 Flying Fortress
Recalled due to weather.
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 63 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 0 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
UNKNOWN TARGET
B-17 Flying Fortress
Abandoned due to weather.
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
| Tonnage dropped | 0.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 55 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 2 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Despatch from 94th Bomb Group and 385th Bomb Group unable to bomb because of weather.
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 118.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 84 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 40 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 21 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 20 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 1 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
Tail gunner, Loftin crew. 381st BG, 534th BS. Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29958 'Battlin' Bombsprayer'. Mission #37 to the Arado Aircraft components at Anklam, Germany. MACR 886. Killed in Action (KIA). Buried in the Ardennes AMC.
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 381st Bomb Group
Navigator, Loftin crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29958 'Battlin' Bombsprayer'. Mission #37 to the Arado Aircraft components at Anklam, Germany. MACR 886. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III and Stalag XIIID.
...
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
BTG, Yorba crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29803 'Flat Foot Floogie'. Mission #39 to the Kugel-Fisher ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 1037. S/Sgt Boylan had reported his ball turret had been hit...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3310 'Blood, Guts and Rust'. Plane ditched into Mediterranean Sea. Returned to base.
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-3328 'Miss Fortune', Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 22 December 1943 in B-17 #4237773 'Full House. ' Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
The plane was ditched in the Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands.
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster / Purple Heart
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Sioux City 8/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 14/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 15/6/43.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Gore 9/5/43; Sioux City 10/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 1/6/43; crashed on take off for Bremen after encountering mechanical problems 13/11/43 with Bob Simons, Co-pilot: Alvin...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/5/43; Gore 8/5/43; Smoky Hill 17/5/43; Dow Fd 30/5/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-U] Horham 15/6/43; Missing in Action (21m) Munster 10/10/43 with Eldon Broman, Co-pilot: John Chaffin, Navigator: Bill Fowler, Bombardier: Paul Guiteras...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Plane Mischief Maker II entered combat approximately Jun43 under command of Capt V.L. Iverson after the original Mischief Maker was damaged beyond repair. After this crew completed 25 missions Maj. Iverson was retained for HQ USSTAF, the crew...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/6/43; Smoky Hill 13/7/43; Kearney 16/7/43; Dow Fd 19/7/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 20/7/43; (34m) transferred Aphrodite project as OLIN'S 69'ERS; when War Weary, fuselage cut down and vehicle windshield fitted before open...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/7/43; Gore 6/8/43; Pendleton 12/8/43; Reno 14/8/43; Pierre 16/8/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 3/9/43; crashed on take off for France 13/8/44 with Leon Sutton, Co-pilot: Harlan Thompson, Navigator: George Healy, Bombardier:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 18/4/43; Assigned 100BG Dow Fd 30/5/43; transferred 412BS/95BG [QW-W] Horham 15/6/43; force landed RAF St Eval ex-St Nazaire 28/6/43; crash landed Gt Ashfield ex-La Pallice 16/9/43; force landed RAF Hensridge; 31m, ex-Munster 22/12/43...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 26/4/43; Sioux City 7/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 30/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 3/7/43; detailed Solignen, 30/11/43 with Paul Kelly, Co-pilot: John Corzette, Navigator: John Wiley, Bombardier: Marion Wiles, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 7/5/43; Denver 14/5/43; Geiger 26/5/43; Gt Falls 7/6/43; Dow Fd 13/7/43; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-J] Framlingham 15/7/43; Missing in Action (11m) Munster 10/10/43 with Bob McGuire, Co-pilot: Glenn Oster, Navigator: Albt Drouhard,...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 31 January 2018 17:50:47 | william henry | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Correct typos |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 June 2015 18:04:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 29-Jun-2015. Added Mission Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 11:40:13 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:16 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
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'. |
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