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15 September 1943
Not yet known
This mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a formation of 93 B-17s from: (1BG (19); 305BG (18); 306BG (18); 351BG (19); and 381BG (19) despatched to bomb the German air deport at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. 87 aircraft are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims but 2 aircraft make crashlandings upon return and the aircraft are declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR)-10RTD, 7 other aircraft are damaged and 3 airmen are Wounded in Action (WIA). This element receives fighter escort.
The second element is composed of 152 B-17s from: 95BG (23); 100BG (20); 390BG (23); 94BG (21); 96BG (23); 385BG (22); and 388BG (20) despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Paris and the aircraft industry there. 40 aircraft are effective on the Caudron-Renault works; 21 aircraft are effective on the Billancourt-Renault works; and 77 aircraft bomb the Hiapano-Suiza aircraft factoried at Paris. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-39KIA 4POW 8EVD; 33 other aircraft are damaged; and 2 airmen are Wounded in Action (WIA) The bomber gunners in these formations claim 12-2-4 of attacking German aircraft.
The third element is a formation of 63 B-24s from: 44BG (22); 93BG (21); and 389BG (20) despatched to bomb the German airfield at Chartres, France. 47 aircraft are effective on the target; 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-4KIA 5POW 1EVD. The bomber ginners in the element claim 3-0-0 of attacking enemy aircraft.
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
This is the last mission for these Groups before being transferred to North Africa on temporary assignment.
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...
| Tonnage dropped | 141.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 63 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 47 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Missing In Action | 10 |
PARIS BILLANCOURT-RENAULT FACTORIES
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
| Tonnage dropped | 63.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 23 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 21 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Evaded | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 2 |
PARIS CAUDRON-RENAULT FACTORIES
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
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 118.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 43 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 40 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 33 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 10 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
PARIS HISPANO-SUIZA AIRCRAFT ENGINE WORKS
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
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 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 229.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 86 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 79 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 18 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 2 |
AIR DEPOT
B-17 Flying Fortress
Some aircraft carried 1000GP bombs on external racks.
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 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 | 267.55 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 93 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 87 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 7 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 20 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3310 'Blood, Guts and Rust'. Plane ditched into Mediterranean Sea. Returned to base.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-31084, Killed in Action (KIA).
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 #4230831 'Lazy Baby. ' A/C landed in Switzerland, however, Lt. Bolin was ordered by the pilot to bail out and did so after getting the top turret gunner out of the A/C. He was captured by German soldiers but not before...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
BTG, Yorba crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29803 'Flat Foot Floogie'. Mission #39 to the Kugel-Fisher ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. MACR 1037. S/Sgt Boylan had reported his ball turret had been hit...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3310 'Blood, Guts and Rust'. Plane ditched into Mediterranean Sea. Returned to base.
Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-3328 'Miss Fortune', Killed in Action (KIA).
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.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Sioux City 8/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 14/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 15/6/43.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Gore 9/5/43; Sioux City 10/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 1/6/43; crashed on take off for Bremen after encountering mechanical problems 13/11/43 with Bob Simons, Co-pilot: Alvin...
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
Delivered Denver 16/4/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-T] Horham 17/7/43; transferred 335BS [OE-T]; 11m, Missing in Action Romilly 15/9/43 with Joe Noyes washed up Berck-Plage two weeks later, Co-pilot: Dave Prees, Navigator: Frank Roth,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 18/4/43; Assigned 100BG Dow Fd 30/5/43; transferred 412BS/95BG [QW-W] Horham 15/6/43; force landed RAF St Eval ex-St Nazaire 28/6/43; crash landed Gt Ashfield ex-La Pallice 16/9/43; force landed RAF Hensridge; 31m, ex-Munster 22/12/43...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/5/43; Dow Fd 13/7/43; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-K] Framlingham 14/7/43.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 10/5/43; Tinker 22/7/43; Assigned 568BS/390BG [BI-D] Framlingham 15/7/43; Missing in Action (15m) Munster 10/10/43 with Wade Sneed, Co-pilot: Darwin Michaelson, Navigator: Melvin Breckenridge, Bombardier: Lew Gardner, Flight engineer...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 18/6/43; Dow Fd 22/7/43; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ- ] Snetterton 27/7/43. Hit by Flak over Paris on 15 September 1943 with Pilot James V. Richardson, Co-pilot: Lawrence Dube, Navigator: Elmer L. Smith, Bombardier: George W. Frank, Flight...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 29/4/43; Sioux City 4/5/43; Roswell 26/5/43; Smoky Hill 12/6/43; Dow Fd 19/6/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG [--K] Knettishall 18/6/43; t/o La Pallice 16/9/43 due to poor weather, with Jarrendt, Co-pilot: ?, Navigator: Staples (Wounded in...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 06 June 2015 23:37:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 6-Jun-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:18 | 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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