397
7 June 1944
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Object Number - UPL 40592 - Harold A Greenwell, Enigineer & Top Gunner 379th Bomb Group, 1st Air Division, 8th Air Force
Mission Details
ARGENTAN (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing is 389th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group; 20Combat Bombardment Wing is 93rd Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group; 392nd Bomb Group
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 198.00
CONDE-SUR-NOIREAU (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Notes: This mission was directed against any congested transportation points near the invasion beaches to hamper German mobility and reinforcements. 20 of the aircraft were PFF-equipped. Heavy cloud cover prevents 100 bombers from bombing. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 41st Combat Bombardment Wing is 303rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group; 93rd Combat Bombardment Wing 385th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group, 493rd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 171 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 61 - FALAISE, FRANCE 7 JUNE, 1944 On the morning of the second day of the invasion, the 457th was dispatched to attack and destroy the highway intersection in the town of Falaise, southeast of Caen, thus hoping to disrupt transportation facilities in the area of the invasion. The Group provided the low 18-ship box for the 94th Combat Wing. Major William F. Smith was Air Commander and Captain J. L. Smith was pilot. "The Eighth Air force is currently charged with a most solemn obligation in support of the most vital operation ever undertaken by our Armed Forces. It will be necessary during certain stages to attack with tremendous intensity the area immediately in front of our advancing troops. No other agency except the Eighth Air Force can undertake this task.... It must be recognized that bombardment accuracy has never faced a more severe test.... Every aid to accuracy must be exploited so that the pattern of our attack is exactly as ordered...."
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 155 T
FLERS (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 177 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 167.00
LISIEUX (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 243.00
VASCOEUIL (Opportunistic)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 57.00
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: 446th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-434690
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot / Operations Officer
Personal picture of SSgt Bill Barlow, 446th Bomb Group
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Crew 302-514: Aerial Armorer Gunner; Tail Gunner; Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35733061
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-403672
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Kenny
- Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- 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: Devil's Brat
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Dog
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Removed connection to "UPL 44266" since there is something not right with the media.
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'.