385
2 June 1944
First row on the right is Lt. Col. Carl T. Goldenberg, 491st Group Commander.
Second row on the left is Major Charles C. Parmele, 854th Squadron Commander.
Third row near the center, wearing an officers cap and sheepskin jacket, is 1st Lt. James Carlin McKeown, pilot of the 853rd Squadron's Delirious Dolores (44-40200).
Ringmasters: The 491st Bombardment Group (H). Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co. (1992).
Object Number - UPL 13534 - Briefing prior to the 491st Bombardment Group's first combat mission on 2 June 1944. First row on the right is Lt. Col. Carl T. Goldenberg, 491st...
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).
The second mission of 2 Jun is carried out by 300 HBs attacking airfields and railroad facilities at or near Massy/Palaiseau, Conches, Beaumont-sur-Oise, Juvisy-sur-Orge, Acheres, Paris, Versailles/Matelots, Bretigny-sur-Orge, and Creil. 8 Bombers are lost to AA fire.
Mission Details
BEAUMONT-SUR-OISE (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 36 T
BRETIGNY (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 489th Bomb Group & 491st Bomb Group. First mission of 491st Bomb Group and has its first loss.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 39 T
CAEN/CARPIQUET (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 117 T
CREIL (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 47 T
PARIS (Primary)
Description: RAILROAD TARGETS
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, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 351st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group and 457th Bomb Group stand down. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of34th Bomb Group, 94th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group.
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![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: 462 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 14 T
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: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0-679017
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15322063
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18115880
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38133497
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 325th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: El Lobo
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 325th 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: The Thomper
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pretty Baby
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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'.
