B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24584 "Susfu" was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-Q] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; Missing in Action 23-Jan-43 while on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Attacked by German FW-190 fighters and crashed at Abbey Pleyben near Edern, France. 2 KIA, 6 POW, 2 EVD, MACR 15571. Participated in 6 Operations (1 was aborted) See Biography events for crew information.
18-Nov-42 Mission #1 - U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France
22-Nov-42 Mission #2 - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France
6-Dec-42 Mission #3 - Carriage and wagon works at Lille, France
12-Dec-42 Mission #4 - Railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France - Aborted
30-Dec-42 Mission #5 - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France
23-Jan-42 Mission #6 LAST OPERATION - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France (FTR)
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...
Squadron
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with the rank of Sergeant. 303BG personnel record does not indicate that he was assigned to any particular crew at that time and does not indicate when he arrived at...
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Susfu".
Participated in 16 Missions (UNDER CONSTRUCTION). See Biography events.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Arrived in Molesworth, UK with crew of "Susfu" on 22-Oct-42.
Operational participation UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Jul-1942 Assigned as Co-Pilot of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. It appears from available records that he was re-assigned to B-17F #42-2966 at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine on or about 5-Oct...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Jun-42 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with rank of Sergeant. 22-Oct-42 arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Susfu". Credited with 26 missions. Final rank as Staff Sergeant....
Military | Captain | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
2-Aug-42 Assigned as a Bombardier on B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar" at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar" but there is no record that he flew any missions with that aircraft. 303BG Mission Report...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Jul-1942 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. It appears from available records that he and his crew were re-assigned to B-17F #42-2966 at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine on...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned to the 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho as an Aerial Gunner but records do not indicate an aircraft assigment at that time. Based on his limited mission participation it is likely that he was just a "spare" gunner, probably...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S], "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with the rank of Sergeant. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar."
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
7-Aug-42 Assigned as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Arrived at Molesworth, UK on 25-Oct-43 aboard "S-for-Sugar". Completed a full 25-mission tour.
...
18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
...
12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mission #1, B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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CREW of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS CMP MAJ Charles C. Sheridan (RTB) ; CP 1LT Donald E. Stockton (RTB) |
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| Mission #2, B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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CREW of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS P 1LT Edward J. Broussard (RTB) ; CP 2LT Benjamin H. Burma (RTB) |
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| Mission #3, B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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CREW of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS P 1LT Edward J. Broussard (RTB) ; CP 1LT William G. LeFevre (RTB) |
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| Mission #4, B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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CREW of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS P 1LT Edward J. Broussard (RTB) ; CP 1LT William G. LeFevre (RTB) |
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| Mission #5, B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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CREW of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS P 1LT Edward J. Broussard (RTB) ; CP 1LT William G. LeFevre (RTB) |
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| Failed to Return (FTR) | Brest, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Shot down by fighters in the area between Brest, France and the coast. |
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| Mission #6, B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS - FTR | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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CREW of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS P 1LT Harry A. Robey, Jr. (KIA); CP 2LT Mark L. McDermott (EVD) |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2021 18:45:19 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 23:03:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 22:52:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 22:42:34 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 22:31:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 22:20:49 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 January 2016 22:04:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description, events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added Mission Participations to Description; made connections to all mission participations; moved Mission #6 crew roster to Biography event notes. Mission particiaption based on my reasearch of 303BG website Mission Reports, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 January 2015 21:46:10 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames, markings, description, events, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2015. Added markings, nickname, target information and loss details per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A Hey MBE. added FTR event , rank, crew position, full proper names and dispositions per MACR 15571; formatted crew display. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:03 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15571 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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