392
5 June 1944
Timothy Motz, from Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41056
Object Number - UPL 44305 - 8th Air Force mission 392; June 5, 1944; Le Touguet, France beach defenses. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
Official Description
629 Heavy Bombers attack 6 coastal defence installations in Cherbourg-Caen area and 8 in Pas de Calais area, along with 3 V-weapon sites and a railroad bridge. 6 Bombers are lost.
Mission Details
BOULOGNE (Primary)
Description: COASTAL DEFENSES
CAEN (Primary)
Description: COASTAL DEFENSES
CHERBOURG (Primary)
Description: COASTAL DEFENSES
Description: COASTAL DEFENSES
Notes: Bomb Groups participating 44th Bomb Group, 91st Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group.
Description: COASTAL DEFENSES
Description: COASTAL DEFENSES
Notes: Lt. Col. Leon R. Vance, Jr (Navigator,) 489th Bomb Group lead aircraft B-24 41-28690 44th Bomb Group/66th BS, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on this mission. He was acting as the lead navigator for the 489th Bomb Group on this mission. This was the only CMOH to be awarded to any B-24 crewman in 8th Air Force. He survived the wounds he received this day and was to be awarded the medal upon his return to the United States. However, Lt. Col Vance was lost in action on 26 July 1944 when the aircraft in which he was a passenger and that was carrying wounded back to the States was lost over the Atlantic. This was the 11th CMOH to be awarded to a member of the 8th Air Force
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 1,896 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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32553930
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39555544
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-709309
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Midge
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pretty Baby
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Spirit of 96
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: White Angel
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss Fitt
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron