14 July 1943
Lt. Carroll Dayle Briscoe (306thBG, 369thSq) flying the "Carroll Jun," named after his daughter who was born in the middle of his tour.
Not yet known
The German air depot at Villacoublay, France and the German airfields Amiens/Glisy and Le Bourget at Paris, France are the primary targets for this mission. These attacks are made by three separate elements: 116 B-17s are despatched from 92BG (15); 303BG (19); 305BG (20); 306BG (24); 379BG (20); and 384BG (18). 101 aircraft of this element are effective on the target. 1 B-17 from 303BG was ditched 30 miles off Shoreham and the entire crew was rescued by ASR; 1 B-17 from 305BG was shot down by enemy aircraft - 7KIA 4POW; and one B-17 from 384BG was shot down by enemy aircraft - 4POW 6EVD (No MACR issued). This formation included 5 YB-40 gunships from 92BG and did not receive fighter escort. The bomber gunners of this element claim 15-7-16 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element was a combined force of 64 B-17s from 91BG (20); 351BG (20); and 381BG (24) despatched to bomb the German airfield Amiens/Glisy. 53 of these aircraft were effective on the target. 1 B-17 from 381BG exploded during assembly - 6KIA 4RTD; 3 other B-17s were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) but all the crews were RTD. The bomber gunners of this element claim 9-0-2 of attacking enemy aircraft. German fighters conducted mainly head-on attacks on the bomber stream. This element received fighter escort.
The third element was a combined force of 84 B-17s from 94BG (19); 95BG (22); 96BG (21); and 100BG (22) despatched to bomb the airfield of Le Bourget at Paris, France. 52 aircraft of this element were effective on the target. 94BG sustains the significant loss of 4 B-17s - 11KIA 14POW 16EVD. The bomber gunners have a field day against the Luftwaffe, claiming 41-27-32 of the attacking enemy aircraft. This element did not have fighter escort.
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
381st Bomb Group had the Missing in Action (MIA), it exploded during assembly. 351st Bomb Group had a Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) crash-landing in southern England, but could not confirm tail number. This element received fighter escort.
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 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 82.95 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 64 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 53 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 34 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 16 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 9 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 2 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
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
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...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 122.85 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 84 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 52 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 50 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 11 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 16 |
| Number of people Evaded | 16 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 14 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 41 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 27 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 32 |
101 of 116 B-17s drop thier bombs on the AIR DEPOT at Villacoublay, France.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Despatch by 92nd Bomb Group includes 5 YB-40s.
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 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 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 | 232.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 116 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 101 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 67 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 8 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
| Number of people Evaded | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 7 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 15 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 7 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 16 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 94th Bomb Group
Eino Asiala was Tail Gunner on B-17 #42-3190, shot down over France, 14 July 1943. Initially evaded, he was captured in Paris at the end of August 1943 and made a Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 381st Bomb Group
Navigator, Holdom Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 14 July 1943 in B-17 #42-30011 "Widget". Mission #9 to the airfield at Amiens-Glisy, France. MACR 133. Killed in Action (KIA). Buried in the Normandy AMC.
Burlingame, CA
Military | Master Sergeant | Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Served 3 March 1942-1 January 1946. Flew 9 missions, not all on Our Bay-Bee. WIA 26 Jul 1943 B-17 #42-30274. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-30274 'Our Bay-Bee', Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag 17B, Krems. Also wounded while POW, shot when 2 other...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 14 July 1943 in B-17 #42-3330. No Missing Air Crew Report has been located for this loss.
Evaded. E&E Report #97
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner/Waist Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 42-30231. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group on 15 Jan 1943. He was the 35th Officer to complete 25 missions. Reported on 05 Feb 1945 with the 2AF weather scouts. Retired as a Colonel from the USAF in 1972.
...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
Co-pilot, Hedin Crew. 381st BG, 533rd BS, 8th AF. Killed in Action, 14 July 1943 in B-17 #42-3223 "Red Hot Riding Hood". Mission #9 to Amiens-Glisy, France. Plane developed engine trouble and exploded over Rattlesden Base. Buried in the Cambridge AMC. ...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels" was assigned to 358BS/303BG [VK-D] Bangor 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth 24-Oct-42; in landing accident with Irl E. Baldwin 26-Apr-43; slated to RAF 100 Squadron, but retained by 803rd BS ATD (American Training...
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 Denver 12/2/43; Walker 23/2/43; Smoky Hill 28/3/43; Presque 8/4/43; Assigned 413BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 18/4/43 MOOR-FIDITE; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 532BS/381BG [VE-E] Ridgewell 16/7/43; Missing in Action...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Pueblo 8/4/43; Smoky Hill 11/5/43; Dow Fd 23/5/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-R] Ridgewell 6/4/43 with Bob Holdom, Bob Gravelyn, Bill Bechter, Jim Phillips, Bill Coleman, Bill Craver, Morris Pryor, Ray Pulliner, Ken Fossan, Jim...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/4/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG as BATTLE WAGON but not to UK; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-J] 29/5/43; Returned to the USA 13/7/43; 4100 BU Patterson 31/7/43; 4000 BU Patterson 5/12/43...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne, WY 22/4/43; Smoky Hill, KS 28/4/43; Walla Walla, WA 7/5/43; Smoky Hill 25/5/43; Presque Island 6/6/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-P] Framlingham 5/6/43; 335BS [OE-P] Horham 15/6/43; 12m, Missing in Action Regensburg 17/8/43 with John...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/5/43; Gore 8/5/43; Smoky Hill 17/5/43; Dow Fd 30/5/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-U] Horham 15/6/43; Missing in Action (21m) Munster 10/10/43 with Eldon Broman, Co-pilot: John Chaffin, Navigator: Bill Fowler, Bombardier: Paul Guiteras...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Idiot's Delight was the first B-17 of the 94th Bomber group to survive 50 missions; not once turning back due mechanical failure. The first mission was flown July 14th 1943 and the 50th was 22nd March 1944. The 94th suffered huge casualties during this...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Plane Mischief Maker II entered combat approximately Jun43 under command of Capt V.L. Iverson after the original Mischief Maker was damaged beyond repair. After this crew completed 25 missions Maj. Iverson was retained for HQ USSTAF, the crew...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/2/43; 19/4/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-U] Molesworth 4/6/43; RWG Leon Kesky Killed in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43; 40m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44 with John Carothers, Co-pilot: Chas Frost, Radio Operator: George...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2016 19:35:03 | Mags | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd BG Web Page |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 May 2015 18:03:19 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims t on enemy aircraft to statistics of Le Bourget/Paris element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 May 2015 18:01:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics on the Villacoublay element per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 May 2015 17:57:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to statistics of Amiens/Glisy element per " The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 May 2015 21:16:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-May-2015. Edited 3rd element Mission Description to include target, "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 May 2015 21:08:47 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-May-2015. Added Mission Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 October 2014 15:57:36 | Tom | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated aircraft 42-30301. B-17 Fortress at War, Roger Freeman 1977 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | 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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