VIII Bomber Command 68
26 June 1943Find A Grave memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68670226/david-hardin
Description
The targets for today are all Luftwaffe installations: the Villacoublay air depot SW of Paris, France is the primary; the airfield at Poissy, France is attacked as the secondary because of cloud cover; the airfield at Tricqueville, France; and the airfield at Le Mans, France. A force of 123 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG (14); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 351BG (21); 379BG (13); 381BG (19); and 384BG (18) to attack Villacoublay air depot. 5 of the 18 aircraft despatched by 92BG were YB-40 gunships. 1 of these flew with the 303BG, 1 with the 384BG and 3 with the 379th BG. Only 12 of the 124 despatched were able to bomb at Paris and 6 others bombed the secondary airfield at Poissy, France because of complete cloud cover of the air depot at Villacoublay. There is some fighter opposition and the bomber gunners claim 13-3-10 of the enemy aircraft.
A second formation of 42 B-17s is depatched from: 305BG (21) and 306BG (21) to bomb the airfield at Tricqueville, France. This target is clear and 39 of the 42 B-17s despatched are effective on the target. The bomber gunners claim 4-2-0 of the enemy aircraft.
A third formation of 81 B-17s is despatched from: 94BG (19); 95BG (18); 96BG (21); and 100BG (23) to bomb the airfield at Le Mans, France, but cloud cover prevents bombing and the formation turns back before reaching the target. There are no losses or claims.
Mission Details
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: All return to base without bombing.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 81
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 12.25
- Aircraft sent: 6
- Aircraft effective: 6
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 90.15
- Aircraft sent: 42
- Aircraft effective: 39
Description: AIR DEPOT
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 91st Bomb Group despatched 19, 5 of which were 5YB-40 assigned to escort the bombers but none of the aircraft make it to the target. Only 6 aircraft from 92nd Bomb Group and 12 from 379th Bomb Group are effective. Fighters are despatched as escort for all elements. All 5 Missing in Action (MIA) aircraft are from 384th Bomb Group
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 28.00
- People killed in action: 6
- People wounded in action: 3
- People evaded: 7
- Prisoners of war: 38
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 17
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 10
- Aircraft sent: 117
- Aircraft effective: 12
- Aircraft missing in action: 5
- Aircraft damaged: 14
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36324682
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33278458
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13096046
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-60131
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18057056 / O-724591
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iza Vailable
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol Swayback, Moor Fidite
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Jimmie, Memphis Blues
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Invader
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pistol Ball
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 511th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2015. Statistics and Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2041. Description based on "The 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'.