VIII Bomber Command 40

6 March 1943
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Public To See Veteran Raider. The famous Flying Fortress "Hell's Angels," which has raided enemy territory 41 times dropping 205,000 lbs of bombs and shooting down 16 enemy fighters, is to be flown to the United States where it will "tour" the country for inspection by the American public. Its targets include St. Nazaire (3 times), Wilhelmshave media-407591.jpg FRE 4209 The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Public To See Veteran Raider. The famous Flying Fortress "Hell's Angels," which has raided enemy territory 41 times dropping 205,000 lbs of bombs and shooting down 16 enemy fighters, is to be flown to the United States where it will "tour" the country for inspection by the American public. Its targets include St. Nazaire (3 times), Wilhelmshaven (4 times), Paris (4 times), Hamm (twice), Lorient (4 times), Rouen (2), Lille (2), Rotterdam (2), Hamburg (2), Antwerp (2) and one raid on each on [each] Brest, Rennes, Amiens, Vegesack, Meanete, Kiel, Le Mans, Paix, Hanover, Abbeville, Schweinfurt,. Total combat time ... 207 hours, 25 minutes. Total flying time ... 531 hours, 20 minutes. ABS/F. Keystone.' Printed caption also attached: '(8). Major Kirk R. Mitchell from Oklahoma City, the Squadron Commander of the wing in which “Hell’s Angels” flies, tries the controls of the famous raider’s cockpit.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 4209 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on...

Description

German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a primary objective for American heavy bomber crews. On this date the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for the main formation of B-17s and in addition the harbour facilites at Brest, France become the primary target of for a formation of B-24s. The attack on Brest is considered a diversion for the main attack on Lorient.



71 B-17s are despatched to attack Lorient, France: 91BG (14); 303BG (18); 305BG (18), 306BG (21). 65 of these are effective on the target and 3 are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 7 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 enemy aircraft probabaly destroyed; and 1 enemy aircraft damaged (7-2-1)



15 B-24s are despatched to attack the harbour facilities at Brest, France: 44BG (10) and 93BG (5) All 15 ar effective on the target and the bomber gunners claim 2-0-2 on enemy aircraft.

Mission Details

BREST (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: This is a diversionary raid to assist the Lorient raid.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 44.50
  • Aircraft sent: 15
  • Aircraft effective: 15
  • Aircraft damaged: 3

LORIENT (Primary)

Description: POWER PLANT, BRIDGE, PORT AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: There is no fighter escort for this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 162.50
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 22
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 71
  • Aircraft effective: 65
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 8

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Carroll Dayle Briscoe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 364th Fighter Group 1st Scouting Force 384th Fighter Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (1st Combat Bomb Wing)
  • Service Numbers: 18052358 / O-441827
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

John R Chapman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18081398
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Harvie Lecil Collins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37101208
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Ellera J Corwin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728345
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Kenneth W Davey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O435673
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Sergeant Vernon E. Carlson, of the 303rd Bomb Group, paints the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Holy Mackeral". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: '"Everything under control" is the optimistic message sent by Sgt. Vernon E. Carlson of the Air Corps, whose home is at 1431 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago. He used to be with the Goetz Elevator Co. He is 29 and unmarried. O.P.S. shows him painting "Holy Mackerel" on a plane.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press C

41-24609

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

42-29540

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shooting Star
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].

42-2973

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza Vailable
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group work on a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5081) nicknamed "Luscious Lady". Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photographs.' [stamp], 'Keystone Press.' [stamp] and 'Sacred.' [stamp] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.

42-5081

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Luscious Lady
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron

42-5130

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sweet Pea
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorNordicFox
Changes
Sources

Corrected image from earlier upload

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Descriptions based on 'The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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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