384
2 June 1944
Mission link added for 2nd June 1944 (#384)
Object Number - UPL 72680 - "A 457th BG Fortress landing without brakes hits a parked B-17 and bursts into flames at Glatton, June 2, 1944. No injuries."
Official Description
Role of Bombers from 2-5 June in preparation for invasion of Normandy on 6 June includes continuation of attacks against transportation and Airfield Targets in Northern France and the institution of a series of blows against coastal defenses, mainly located in Pas de Calais coastal area, to deceive the enemy as to the sector to be invaded (Operation COVER). In the first mission on 2 Jun, 776 Heavy Bombers attack targets at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Wimereux, Equihen-Plage, Hardelot Plage, Neufchatel, Dannes, Plage-Sainte-Cecile, Stella- Plage, Breck-sur-Mer, and Saint-Aubin. Opposition is confined to anti-aircraft fire and is generally ineffective.
Description
Operations on this day were specified for D minus 3 by the Overall Air Plan as modified by Headquarters A.E.A.F. All objectives were located in the Pas de Calais (Fortitude) area, the attacks having as their purpose deception of the enemy as to the actual assault area (Cover Plan). It was provided that in these operations immediately preceding D-Day only one-half of the available heavy bombers were to be employed in order to conserve the force an all-out assault in direct support of the troop landings.
The weather forecast for the Pas de Calais area indicated 8/10-10/10 stratocumulus with bases 800-1500 feet and tops 7000-9000 feet.
In view of predicted cloud conditions, plans were made to employ through the overcast bombing technique in this operation which would utilize approximately one-half of the available heavy bombers.
Mission Details
Pas De Calais Area
Description: At the time of the operation, the D-Day invasion was due to take place in 3 days time on 5 June 1944. The plan was for Heavy Bombers to carry out an attack on airfields, transport and V Weapons sites in the Pas De Calais area to create the impression that this was the actual assault area. Only half of the available heavy bomber force were sent on the mission to ensure the maximum possible force remained available for the assault/
Notes: The route for the bombers was designed to avoid large numbers of units attacking a number of relatively small area at the same time, but also to prevent anti-aircraft fire. The force was divided into three to accomplish this. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 57 - HARDELOT, FRANCE 2 JUNE, 1944 The final pre-invasion aerial assault was under way. The target was a coastal gun position consisting of six 155mm field artillery guns situated on the beach front equidistant between Boulogne and Le Touquet. Similarly, other gun batteries up and down the French Coast were attacked by other units of the Eighth Air Force. Eighteen aircraft attacked the target without Wing assembly. Bombing results were unobserved due to heavy cloud cover. The Group encountered no flak or fighter opposition. Major George A. Beere was Air Commander and Lt. Russell M. Selwyn was pilot.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2506.5
- People killed in action: 1
- People wounded in action: 1
- People missing in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 926
- Aircraft effective: 805
- Aircraft damaged: 11
PAS-DE-CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group. 491st Bomb Group not with this element.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 884.10
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-403672
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12159739
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-819669
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747209
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19055027
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Kenny
- Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Short Straw : Piccadilly Special
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Challenger
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damn Yankee
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Thomper
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Eighth Air Force After Action Report for 2 June 1944, Operation No 384, Field Order 709
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'.