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14 January 1944
8th Air Force mission 183; V-1 launching site; January 14, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
Not yet known
This mission is a combined effort of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions to attack V-Weapon sites near the French coast near Pas-de-Calaise. Some targets of opportunity were also bombed. A total of 20 out of 21 V-Weapon sites are hit with varying results.
1st Bomb Division: A combined force of 176 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 384BG and 401BG. 169 aircraft are effective on V-Weapon targets. 2 aircraft Failed to Return - 20POW 1EVD. 64 aircraft are damaged, mainly from AA-fire. 1 airman aboard a returninbg aircraft was KIA and 10 others were wounded. German fighter resistance was light and the bomber gunners in this element had no claims on enemy aircraft.
3rd Bomb Division: A combined force of 198 B-17s are despatched from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG390BG and 447BG. 187 aircraft are effective on a target. There are no aircraft or personnel losses in this element although 2 aircraft are damaged. German fighter resistance was light and the bomber gunners in this element had no claims on enemy aircraft.
2nd Bomb Division: A combined force of 178 B-24s are despatched from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; and 448BG. 175 are effective on a target, of these 19 drop on targets of opportunity. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 8KIA 2POW. One other aircraft sustaining battle damage crashlanded at its Station, but in depth research by Stan Bishop was not able to identify the tail number of this aircraft. It is assumed that all 10 airmen were OK and Returned to Duty (RTD). 1 airman in a returning aircraft was WIA. The bomber gunners in this element claimed 8-0-1 of attacking German fighters.
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Not yet known
19 B-24s hit targets of opportunity.
| Tonnage dropped | 55.58 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 19 |
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-17 Flying Fortress
198 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division are despatched to attack V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calais area, 20 of 21 V-Weapon sites are attacked.
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 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
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 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
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 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 | 546.98 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 198 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 187 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 2 |
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-17 Flying Fortress
176 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division are despatched to attack V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calais area, 20 of 21 V-Weapon sites are attacked.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
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,...
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 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
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
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
| Tonnage dropped | 494.33 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 176 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 169 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 64 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 10 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 20 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-24 Liberator
178B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division are despatched to hit V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calais area.
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
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 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory...
Group
The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the...
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
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...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 456.77 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 178 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 156 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 9 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 8 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 8 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 1 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Karl Arundale was Co-Pilot on B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission to V-weapons site at Le Meillard, France on 14 January 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
James Barlow was Bombardier on B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission to V-weapons site at Le Meillard, France on 14 January 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 'Blitzing' Betsy' was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen,...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG, 547th BS on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #163 dated 8 December 1943, as crew pilot, 3 combat missions.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Bombardier / L,R Waist Gunner, Nose Gunner / Togglier | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) in 42-31083; A/C exploded mid-air near Downham Market, England. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Robert Clink was Ball Turret gunner on B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission to V-weapons site at Le Meillard, France on 14 January 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4231691. Landed in Switzerland. Interned.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
Richard Davis was Radio Operator on B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission to V-weapons site at Le Meillard, France on 14 January 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner | 445th Bomb Group
Completed 30 missions from 4 Aug 1942 to 18 Sept 1945.
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
James Elovich was Right Waist gunner on B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission to V-weapons site at Le Meillard, France on 14 January 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
B-24 Liberator
A/C flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
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; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 13/1/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [VK-N] Homestead 5/3/43; Molesworth 9/4/43 (35missions). Missing in Action 14 January 1944 with Pilot Captain Merle R. Hungerford Jr, Co-pilot: Karl B. Arundale, Navigator: Joe B. Vogel, Bombardier: James F...
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 Cheyenne 21/9/43; Gr Island 6/10/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 25/10/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 10/2/44 with Jim Feeneynot found till 25/2/44, Radio Operator: Norman Kajut, Waist gunner: Marion Forbis,Tail gunner: Lou LeFevre (4...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/9/43; Gr Island 7/10/43; Romulus 10/10/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 15/10/43; Missing in Action Augsburg 13/4/44 with Art Nelson, Co-pilot: Art Livermore, Navigator: Maurice White, Bombardier: Bill Matuszewski, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
(GH) Delivered Cheyenne 29/9/43; Gr Island 22/10/43; Memphis 4/11/43; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-X] Kimbolton 22/11/43; Missing in Action Leipzig 7/7/44 with Bob Harrah, Co-pilot: Bob Giles, Bombardier: Joe Ashbrook, Ball turret gunner: Ken Mays (4...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 07 January 2016 18:26:52 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added bomber gunner claims of 2nd BD to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 18:21:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to name and description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Edited title and added Mission Description per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. Casualties verified from US National Archives Records Administration Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) . |
||
| 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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