VIII Bomber Command 4
21 August 1942Official Description
At Gen Arnold’s request, Gen Eisenhower gives Gen Spaatz additional duties as Air Officer for ETOUSA and head of the air section of its staff, thus assuring active participation by Eighth AF in theater planning. 12 airplanes are dispatched to bomb shipyards at Rotterdam, but mission is aborted due to attack by 25 Me-109’s and FW-190’s. Lack of proper coordination with Spitfire escort is major factor in failure of mission.
Description
97BG despatches 12 B-17s on a mission to bomb the shipyards and harbour facilities at Rotterdam, Holland. The mission is aborted when attacked by approximately 25 Bf-109 and Fw-190 fighter aircraft. Spitfire aircraft were despatched by 31FG as escorts for the bombers, but aborted because the bombers were 16 minutes late for rendezvous. 8th Air Force sustains the first KIA of an airman in the ETO.
Mission Details
Description: AIR-SEA RESCUE
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: Despatched on an Air Sea Rescue (ASR) mission.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 11
Description: FIGHTER DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: A diversion for the B-17s attacking Rotterdam.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 11
PATROL DUTCH COAST
Description: FIGHTER PATROL
Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Notes: Patrol off the Dutch coast.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 11
ROTTERDAM
Description: SHIP YARD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Mission is aborted due to an attack by 25 Bf 109s and Fw-190s. Fighter escort was planned for this mission but coordination with Spitfire escorts didn't happen because bombers were 16 minutes late. 8th Air Force suffers its first loss of an airman in combat. The co-pilot two LT Donald A. Walter, O-437895 of 41-9089 JOHNNEY REB is killed by a Luftwaffe fighter attack. The pilot and bombardier are wounded.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- People killed in action: 1
- People wounded in action: 5
- People returned to duty: 9
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 6
- Aircraft sent: 12
- Aircraft damaged: 1
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: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15067557
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-724720
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19038492 at enlistment, then O-659022
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15048241 and O-431059
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-437895
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Johnny Reb
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Rotterdam per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 25-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.