400
8 June 1944Description
Mission #7 - Bombed the railway yards in Tours, France. Long ride (7 hours).
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 13 T
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 26 T
ANGERS (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 55 T
ANGERS/ST LAUD (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 72 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 54 T
Description: BRIDGE
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 122 T
CINQ MARS (Primary)
Description: BRIDGE
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 123 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 15 T
GRANDVILLE (Opportunistic)
Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 116 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 1,178 bombers participate in this mission supported by 1,353 fighter sorties against communications in France to isolate German forward elements. The bombers concentrate on Luftwaffe airfields. Cloud conditions continue to hamper visual bombing and 400+ bombers are prevented from dropping their bombs. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 1CBW is 91st Bomb Group, 381st BG, 398th BG; 40CBW is 92nd BG, 305th BG, 306th BG; 41CBW is 303rd BG, 379th BG, 384th BG; 94CBW is 351st BG, 401st BG, 457th BG. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 4CBW is 94th BG, 447th BG; 13CBW is 95th Bomb Group, 100th BG, 390th BG; 45CBW is 96th Bomb Group, 388th BG, 452nd BG; 93CBW is 385th BG.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 182 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 61 T
LE MANS/ARNAGE (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 35 T
MELUN
Description: BRIDGE
Notes: 458th Bomb Group attack using AZON is foiled by cloud cover.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 0.00
NANTES (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 67 T
NANTES (Primary)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 94 T
ORLEANS (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 110 T
ORLEANS/LES AUBRAIS (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 62 - ETAMPES, FRANCE 8 JUNE, 1944 The 457th sent a complete Combat Wing of three 12- aircraft boxes to destroy the double railroad intersection at Etampes, thirty miles south of Pans on the main rail line from Orleans to Tours. Major Leroy Watson was Air Commander with Lt. Edward B. Dozier as pilot. Captain J. L. Smith was Commander of the low box, and Mark R. Belcher was pilot, and Major George A. Beere was Commander of the high box with Captain William L. Gibbons as pilot. There was a complete undercast over the target area. As no PFF equipment was available, the planned attack on Etampes was abandoned. After searching for targets of opportunity until several aircraft were low on fuel, the formation returned to the Base without bombing. No enemy fighter opposition was encountered; however, several craft sustained battle damage due to flak. The sky was clear over the Channel and the Group had an excellent view of the many ships, from battleships to barges, that filled the Channel. Near Cherbourg a battleship was shelling the Coast.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 202 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 35 T
PONTAUBAULT (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; 14CBW is 44th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group; 20CBW is 93rd Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group; 95CBW is 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group; 96CBW is 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 4567th Bomb Group; 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 4CBW is 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group; 93CBW is 490CBW, 493CBW. The 3rd Bomb Division, 93CBW, 34th Bomb Group stood down.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 199 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 21 T
RENNES (Opportunistic)
Description: BRIDGE
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 63 T
RENNES (Opportunistic)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 4 T
RENNES (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 81 T
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 120 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: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35589038
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-755018
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Navigator / Bombardier Instructor
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37666486
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15097718 / O-695264
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- 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
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Boomerang
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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'.