VIII Bomber Command 92
7 September 1943
Object Number - UPL 67641 - Herbert H. Hamilton, Cpt., Intelligence Officer, 547th BS, 384th BG.
Official Description
Over 100 Heavy Bombers strike industrial area and airfield at Brussels while smaller number of Heavy Bombers bomb targets (including NOBALL site) at Watten, and shipping off Texel Island.
Description
Two German airfields, one at Brussels, Begium and the other at Bergen, Holland, and the V-Weapons sites around Watten, France are the primary targets for this mission.
The first element of 144 B-17s from: 303BG (14); 382BG (14); 379BG (14); 306BG (12); 305BG (12); 92BG (12); 351BG (19); and 381BG (17) are despatched to bomb the German airfield at Brussels/Evere, Belgium. 105 are effective on the target. There are nolosses or claims but 1 aircraft makes a crashlanding at Polebrook, damaging the aircraft but all 10 airment are OK, another10 aircraft are damaged. The formation receives good fighter escort support by 8th AF P-47s.
The second element is a formation of 29 B-24s from: 44BG (13) and 389BG (16) dispatched to bomb Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. This is the first bombing mission for these Groups following their Temporary Duty (TDY) assignments and return from North Africa. Bombing does not take place at Leeuwarden, and the secondary target: the German airfield of Bergen/Alkmaar in the Netherlands is attacked by 3 effective aircraft. 19 aircraft of this formation end up bombing the opportunistic target of a German shipping convoy near Texel Island on the return. There are no losses or claims. This element also receives fighter escort by 8th AF P-47s.
The third element is a formation of 147 B-17s from: 385BG (21); 94BG (21); 95BG (21); 100BG (18); 390BG (26); 388BG (18) and 95BG (22) despatched to bomb suspected V-Weapon sites in and around Watten, France. Weather hampers most bombing with only 58 of this formation being able to drop on a target. 94BG, 385BG, and 388BG are unable to bomb at all. There are no losses or claims but 39 aircraft are damaged and 7 airmen are Wounded in Action. This element receives fighter escort by the RAF.
Mission Details
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Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 19 aircraft bomb a ship convoy off of Texel Island, Holland with 102 X 500GP and 1,140 X 20 F. Only 3 aircraft hit the primary at Bergen
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 45.90
- Aircraft sent: 29
- Aircraft effective: 22
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 1 B-17 from 92nd Bomb Group attacked a target of opportunity. One aircraft from 351st Bomb Group crash-landed at the base.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 310.75
- Aircraft sent: 114
- Aircraft effective: 105
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 10
Description: V1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 94th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group and 388th Bomb Group prevented from bombing due to cloud cover. RAF provided escort for this element.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 116 X 2000GP
- People wounded in action: 7
- Aircraft sent: 147
- Aircraft effective: 58
- Aircraft damaged: 39
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: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-399782
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-737361
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-741968
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot ; Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794117
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
![Staff Sergeant Donald W. Crossley, a tail gunner of the 95th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/9/43.' A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse of print, this has been lost, however considering the publication date, press agency and subject matter this was likely to have read: 'AWARDS TO THE HIGH-SCORING GUNNER. The Distinguished Flying Cross and an oak leaf cluster- the equivalent](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379270.jpg.webp?itok=7S4HAZqB)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15107390
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Linda Ball
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Gremlin's Castle
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fire Ball
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Snoozin Susan
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Buck-Shot
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
USAAF Combat Chronology. 389th Mission reports supplied by http://www.ww2historyproject.org/
Lee Cunningham 2-Jun-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.