453
5 July 1944
Object Number - UPL 33647 - "A large explosion erupts in the rail marshalling yards at Biziers, France 100 miles west of Marseilles on the Mediterranean, 5 July 44. 8th USAAF...
Description
Bombed marshaling yards near Toulon while flying from Italy back to England.
Mission Details
BEZIERS (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group Shuttle groups returning from Italy. 70 B-17s on shuttle mission (UK-USSR-Italy-UK) attack a marshalling yard at Beziers, France. They are joined by B-24s from the 15th AF. 42 P-51s return to the UK with the bombers, 11 remain in Italy 10 of which return to the UK the next day and the last one several days later. They escort the bombers.
![Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408505.jpg.webp?itok=zJwHCUjh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 183 T
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 459th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 122.50
EINDHOVEN (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 37.7 T
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 106 T
GILZE-RIJEN (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 303rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 105 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 67.50
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 9 T
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 103.5 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 61.5 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 55.5 T
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: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20441207
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 707th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0815190
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13038768
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-812653
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Yankee Buzz Bomb
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Big Dick Hard To Hit
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: I'll Get By
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Belle of the brawl
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Berlin Bessie
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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'.
