317A

25 April 1944

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

DIJON/LONGVIC (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group. Note in log of Horace Turner states, "Raided Dijon, Bombed Airbase, Very good bombing, Good Formation. Flak light. A good mission."

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 297.8 T HE 40.2 T IB

LANDAU (Opportunistic)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

MANNHEIM (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 61.2 T HE 16 T IB

METZ/FRASCATY (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 32 - NANCY/ESSEY, FRANCE 25 APRIL, 1944 Mannheim, Metz and Dijon-Longvic were principal targets for the Eighth Air Force, while the 94th Combat Wing went to Nancy/Essey Airfield. This field was used by the Germans for flying military personnel between France and Germany. It was also used as a training school for glider and fighter pilots. The 457th supplied twenty-four planes comprising the high box of the 94th Combat Wing. The Group's leaders were Major Rod Francis as Air Commander and Lt. Edward R. Bender as pilot. Assembly and flight to the target were without incident. The target was obscured, and a 360 degree turn did not Solve the visibility problem. The secondary target was also obscured. A pre-selected airfield target of opportunity was visible but was not bombed. The Group was on a westward course and was in search for open targets, but none were found. The Group returned to the base without dropping bombs. When the formation was about fifteen miles from the French Coast south of Le Havre, the lead craft, commanded by Major Rod Francis, suddenly burst into flames between the fuselage and the No. 3 engine. It swung out of formation, flew to the Channel, dropped bombs, did a 180 degree turn back to France and the crew bailed out. The craft went into a gentle gliding turn and disappeared into the undercast. Nine parachutes were positively counted with a possible tenth one observed. Major Rod Francis, Group Gunnery Officer Lt Jack Hotaling, Navigators Earl E. Woodard and Arthur T. Cavanaugh, and Radio Operator, Sgt. Laymon M. Mahan, evaded capture and later returned to England. (Compiler Note: For Sgt. Laymon Mahan account of evasion, see Chapter 19.) The crew of Lt Edward R. Bender was lost on this date

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 238.5 T HE 112.7 T IB

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 684142
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14161785
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-683907
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37334432
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner / Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16057259 at enlistment, then O-682183
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Roarin Bill
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Max
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 401st Bomb Group stand with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31662) nicknamed "Fancy Nancy IV" after fixing her engines. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Another famous Fort and her crew.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fancy Nancy IV
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fire Ball Red
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Casino
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoraquaflow1
Changes
Sources

Added by Karen Turner, daughter of Horace Turner.

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
Changes
Sources

Associated Bomb Groups of 1st Bomb Division.

Date
Changes
Sources

Associated Bomb Group of 1st Bomb Division.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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'.