Official description
34 Heavy Bombers attack U-boat pens at Brest.
Description
A combined bomber force of 56 B-17s are despatched by 91BG, 301BG and 306BG to bomb the U-Boat pens at Brest, France. This is the first mission flown by 91st Bomb Group. This element is joined by 12 B-24s from 93BG. To aide the attacking bomber force, 7 B-24s from 44BG fly a diversion. This is the first mission for 44th Bomb Group
Mission details
1.
Description
DIVERSION
Aircraft type
B-24 Liberator
Notes
The 44th Bomb Group fly their first mission.
Units
-
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...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
7 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
7 |
2. BREST (Primary)
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
The 306th Bomb Group has 15 of 24 B-17s reaching the target. All 18 B-17s despatched from 301st Bomb Group are recalled and none reach the target.
Units
-
Group
Activated 3-February-1942 at Geiger Field, Washington and equipped with B-17s. On 27-May-1942 the ground unit moved to Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, and the aircraft went to Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base), California for...
-
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
57.50 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
56 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
23 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
11 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command |
1 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command |
2 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
5 |
3. BREST (Primary)
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
Not yet known
Units
-
Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
22.00 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
12 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
11 |
Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair |
1 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
1 |
Number of people Wounded in Action |
2 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command |
2 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
2 |
4. BREST (Primary)
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-24 Liberator
Notes
Not yet known
Units
-
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...
-
Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
22.00 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
14 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
8 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
11 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command |
3 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command |
1 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
2 |
Service
People
-
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17F 41-24495 'Rose O'Day' while serving as Co-Pilot. Prisoner of War (POW). Officially recognized by German Gov't as American POW #99. Interned at Dulag Luft, Oflag 23b, Stalag Luft 3, and Stalag 7b. Cartoonist, sent POW...
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Military | Captain | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Flew on John L. Ryan crew. From Sept 1942 until 6 March 1943. Shot down 6 March 1943 over Lorient, France in B-17F 42-5130 'Sweet Pea', 306BG/367BS while serving as Navigator Baled out and taken Prisoner of War (POW). Had flown 12 1/2 missions. His...
Aircraft
-
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron/91st Bomb Group [DF-A], Bangor 31/8/42; Bassingbourn 26/10/42; one of first in group to complete 25 missions; Returned to the USA Columbia 25/6/43 for nationwide war bond tour; Reconstruction Finance Corporation ...
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B-24 Liberator
This aircraft was assigned to the 93BG/329BS and participated in the mission to Lille, France on 7-Nov-1942. The aircraft crash-landed at RAF Exter and all the crew except pilot Capt Ralph J. McBride, Jr. were uninjured. Capt McBride sustained a wound...