418
17 June 1944
Object Number - UPL 34110 - "A direct hit on the southern end of the bridge at Clemency, about 20 miles south of Auzerre, France, has severed all rail tracks during the attack...
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 3T
BRETIGNY (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 50 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 35.5 T
CHATEAUDUN (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 33.8 T
DREUX (Opportunistic)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2.5 T
GUYANCOURT/CAUDRON (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 66 T
LAVAL (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93 Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 83 T
LE MANS/ARNAGE (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 52.9 T
MELUN (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 26.5 T
MONCHY-BRETON (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 92nd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306 Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group,457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 68 - MONCHY-BRETON, FRANCE 17 JUNE, 1944 The target was the Monchy-Breton airfield, a grass covered field which had no previous operational history. Due to the constant bombing of air fields, the Germans were forced to disperse the aircraft to nearby fields. The target was located about six miles east of St. Pot and southwest of Lille. Major Leroy Watson was Air Commander with Lt. Kenneth R. Johnston as pilot. The Group provided an eighteen ship box, leading the 94th Combat Wing. Bombing was by PFF and results were poor. On the return home four craft were damaged by fire from new antiaircraft guns brought into the area by the Germans. On 15 June, a directive was issued calling attention to the fact that appearance of personnel was far below prescribed standards, and effective measures would have to be taken immediately to rectify the situation. On 17 June, personnel were notified classes in military courtesy would be conducted in the evenings for all personnel failing to salute, pointing out that the hand salute is one of the basic fundamentals of a good soldier. Military discipline would be maintained at a high level and instructions necessary to bnng this about would be furnished.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 118.4 T
Description: RAILROAD BRIDGE
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 67.5 T
ST VALERY (Opportunistic)
Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2.5 T
Description: AIRFIELD
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 40 T
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-698455
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37551723
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39043497
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-710363
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Little Lulu
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Heaven Can Wait, Boche Buster
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 407th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: We'll Get By
- Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron 392nd Bomb Group 577th Bomb Squadron
![An Air Raid Patrol Warden surveys the wreckage of a crashed B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95023) of the 392nd Bomb Group near Cheshunt. Image stamped on reverse: 'Evening News.' [stamp], '349114.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '392 BG B-24 after mid air collision. 12/8/44.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380465.jpg.webp?itok=_SERfmR_)
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Lucky Lass II
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 577th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 857th 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'.