389

4 June 1944

Official Description

In the first mission of the day the escort is to be divided between Pas de Calais (COVER) area and the Normandy assault (NEPTUNE ) area. However, D-Day is postponed 24 hours and the NEPTUNE force is cancelled. 231 HBs attack 7 targets in Pas de Calais area. No Bombers are lost.

Mission Details

NORMANDY

Description: COASTAL DEFENSES

Notes: Part of the force was to bomb the coastal defences in the Normandy area as part of Operation NEPTUNE, but the invasion was postponed 24 hours and these Bomb Groups were recalled. These Bomb Groups not identified in source data.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 0.00

PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)

Description: COASTAL DEFENSES

Notes: Continuation of OPERATION COVER. 6 targets are selected. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 1st Combat Bombardment Wing is 91st Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group; 40th Combat Bombardment Wing is 92nd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group; 41st Combat Bombardment Wing is 303rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 13rd Combat Bombardment Wing is 95th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group; 45Combat Bombardment Wing is 96th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."

1st Bomb Division

  • 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.'

3rd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 524 T

PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)

Description: COASTAL DEFENSES

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 20Combat Bombardment Wing is 93rd Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group.

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'

2nd Bomb Division

  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 143 T

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Paul Clifford Akin

  • 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

Wallace Frank Allen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35727131
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner / Tail Gunner

Robert B Allison

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 65th General Hospital
  • Service Numbers: 55619
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arthur Ellsworth Allison

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33574325
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
Air Force officer pinning award or ribbon on uniform of SSG Beeks

Charles H Beeks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20441207
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

42-102430

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
  • Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group

42-102442

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Swiss Miss
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th 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.'

42-102447

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: El's Belles
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron

42-102459

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Kenny
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group

42-102501

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Challenger
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

USAAF Combat Chronology.

Date
Contributorcmckeever
Changes
Sources

Daughter - Carol Rollinger McKeever

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'.