8 November 1942
41 HBs bomb the Abbeville/Drucat A/F and the Atelier d’Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille.
Two Primary (P) targets are the objects of this mission: the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France and the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille, France. 91BG despatches 15 B-17s to Abbeville and 301BG and 306BG despatch a combined force of 38 B-17s to Lille. This is the last mission for 301BG with the 8th AF in the ETO.
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
There is no fighter support for this mission.
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 | 27.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 15 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 11 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 4 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 5 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| 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 | 1 |
ATCLIER D'HELLEMMES RR WORKS
B-17 Flying Fortress
This is the last combat mission for the 301st Bomb Group with 8th Air Force. They have flown 8 missions in 104 sorties and dropped 186 tons of bombs. They were re-assignedto 12th Air Force 14-Sep-42 and later with 15th Air Force operating from bases in Italy. The Spitfires from 4th Fighter Group are sent as support for the bombers only on their withdrawal from the target.
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,...
| Tonnage dropped | 73.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 31 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 8 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 5 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 13 |
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 8 November 1942 in B-17F-10-BO 41-24472 while serving as Pilot. Evaded. He reported to the American Consulate Gibraltar 21 April 1943 and returned to England on 23-Apr-43.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942, on first mission, B-17F 41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie" 91BG/323BS suffered severe damage on the mission to bomb the German airfield Abbeville/Drucat but plane returned with all crew and was salvaged. He was serving as Pilot on that aircraft...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942, on first mission, B-17F 41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie" 91BG/323BS suffered severe damage on the mission to bomb the German airfield Abbeville/Drucat but plane returned with all crew and was salvaged. He was serving as Radio Operator on that...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942 Wounded in Action while serving as Navigator on B-17F 41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie". Aircraft was damaged on mission to bomb the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France. Aircraft RTB but was too damaged to repair and was salvaged on...
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 8 November 1942 in B-17 41-24472 while serving as Co-Pilot. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942, on first mission, B-17F 41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie", 91BG/323BS, suffered severe damage on the mission to bomb the German airfield Abbeville/Drucat but plane returned with all crew and was salvaged. He was serving as Tail Gunner on that...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
23-Jun-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O] "Snap! Crackle! Pop!, 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo, New Mexico. 15-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard B-17F 41-24620.
Mission participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 8 November 1942 in B-17 41-24472 while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA).
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...
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...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 352BS/301BG Chelveston 7/42; Tafaraoui 24/11/42; crash landed Mateur 9/5/43 40m with George Peabody; flak damage 6/11/43; Returned to the USA 22/10/43; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 31/10/45....
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie" Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR- ] Bangor 10-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 11-Oct-42; damaged on first mission Abbeville 8-Nov-42 limped back to base, and became a Hangar Queen; Salvaged BD 27-Nov-42 10RTD.
...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 September 2019 13:53:10 | Emily | Changes to official description |
| Sources | ||
Air Force Combat Chronology |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 February 2015 19:05:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 February 2015 19:04:50 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Abbeville per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 October 2014 18:29:51 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 29-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop http://www.usaaf.net/chron/42/nov42.htm |
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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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