332
1 May 1944
1 May 1944 - Maisoncelle, France - No Ball Targets
This was the first of two missions flown by the 466th BG on this date. This mission took off at 0230. Many 466th BG crews learning that multiple missions were scheduled for the day surmised that the invasion was starting. The 466th BG got off without issue. All returned. No fighters, no flak were reported 466th Bomb Group collection
466th BG Archives
Attlebridge Diaries - John Woolnough
Object Number - UPL 19351 - 466th BG Mission Route Map 1 May 1944 - Maisoncelle, France - No Ball Targets This was the first of two missions flown by the 466th BG on this...
Mission Details
MONTDIDIER (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 54 T HE
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
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.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 222 T HE
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: V-Weapon sites around Pas-de-Calais are targeted. Operation CROSSBOW launched against 23 V-Weapon sites in France, but weather frustrates operations and only 3 V-Weapon sites are actually hit. 3rd Bomb Division-is 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.
![Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408505.jpg.webp?itok=zJwHCUjh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 61.75 T HE
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 38 - SIRACOURT-ST POL, FRANCE 1 MAY, 1944 A return was made to the invasion coast where the Eighth bombed rocket sites and fortifications. The target for the 457th was the anti-invasion fortification of Siracourt, located in an open field near St. Pol, another No Ball target. It was one of the eight largest no balls along the coast and considered a very important fortification. As part of the operation, a practice night assembly was ordered to take place prior to the departure for the target. This exercise commenced at 0420 hours. The aircraft returned to the Glatton Buncher at daylight, and assembled for the flight to the target. (The Buncher was a non-directional radio homing transmitter located near the field, for formation assembly and other navigation purposes, using each aircraffs radio compass.) The 457th supplied twenty-one planes with Lt. Cot. Henry B. Wilson acting as Air Commander. Lt. Donald E. Lady was pilot. There was ten-tenths cloud cover over the target. After making two 360 degree turns over the target, the Group left and bombed an airdrome at Roye/Amy, a target of opportunity. Bombing results were fair. Flak was intense and accurate, and twelve aircraft sustained damage.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 47.5 T HE
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 44 T HE
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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18216616
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665266
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31037975 / O-681515
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ruth-Marie
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
![An airman of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102447) nicknamed "El's Belles". First handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/L on last of 365's bases in Belgium other side "Angels Sister" [name struck-out and annotated 'No'] 365 FG C Johnson/icm/75' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'BG-A 95 BG.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379271.jpg.webp?itok=QwML6lTh)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El's Belles
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Paisano
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Odd Ball aka Double In Brass
- Unit: 571st Bomb Squadron 390th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Thomper
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
711th Bombardment Squadron (H), 447th Bombardment Group (H)
B-17-G #42-39882, “My Gal” Crew
Top Left to Right: August E. Herlth, Eugene G. D'Albero, Larry S. Hatfield, Martin J. Gruber
Bottom Left to Right: William M. Lindgren, Bailey E. Swadley, Raymond L. Hayes, William H. Stoyer, Rocco J. LoCarro, Louis L. Jenkins
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/
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'.
