DOCUMENT 52983

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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 21, 5 Feb 1944, Chateauroux, France. The results of bombing Chateauroux Airfield were excellent. Pictures of 401st bombs striking the target appeared in Stars and Stripes and in London newspapers. They showed the target completely demolished. One aircraft, "Nasty Habit", was landed safely on three engines by its co-pilot, Lt. George Hellmuth, and engineer, Sgt. James Bailey, both of whom were wounded, after the pilot, Lt. Harry Piper, was severely wounded. Hellmuth and Bailey both passed out after landing the aircraft. Upon return all aircraft were accounted for by 1439 hours--23 at Deenthorpe, one at Gravesend with three wounded, and one at Abingdon with one dead (Sgt. Fatcia) and two seriously wounded (Sgts. Minor and Moneybaker).

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Units

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Betty J.
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pakawalup II
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Round Tripper
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shade Ruff
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Mission

Revisions

Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesChanges to unit associations
Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesChanges to caption and aircraft associations
Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesCreated entry with caption, unit associations, place associations and mission associations