445

28 June 1944
media-26395.jpeg UPL 26395 A group of 384th BG B-17's that have landed AWAY at the 56th FG base at Boxted, 28 June 1944 because of bad weather at Station 106.

Left group, front to rear:

B-17G-45-BO #42-97320 "Hot Rock" Code: SU-G
B-17G-70-BO #43-37703 "Tremblin' Gremlin II" Code: SU-P

Right group, front to rear:

B-17G-30-VE #42-97824 no name Code: SU-U
B-17G-55-BO #42-102661 "Big Dog: Code: SU-L
B-17G-95-DL #44-6141 "Sneakin' Deacon" Code: SU-F
B-17G-45-BO #42-97309 "Kathleen - Lady of Victory" JD-C
384th Bomb Group collection

Added association to Irving Brayer. Brayer was photo and communications officer of the 56th Fighter Group, and took this image in June 1944.

Object Number - UPL 26395 - A group of 384th BG B-17's that have landed AWAY at the 56th FG base at Boxted, 28 June 1944 because of bad weather at Station 106. Left group,...

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 39.1 T

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 40 T

DENAIN/PROUVLY (Opportunistic)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 63.4 T

DUGNY (Primary)

Description: OIL DEPOT

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 40 T

FISMES (Primary)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 72 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 26 T

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3 T

JUVENCOURT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 127.1 T

LAON/ATHIES (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 91.1 T

LAON/COUVRON (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: About one-third of the escorting fighters afterwards bomb and strafe transport targets, claiming 3 locomotives and an armored vehicle. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group,306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17 is 94th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 78 - LAON-COUVRON, FRANCE 28 JUNE, 1944 The Germans had dispersed the bulk of their front line fighters in the Paris and Laon regions. The field at Laon-Couvron had based both bombers and fighters. The 457th was part of a force of two combat wings directed to bomb the facility. The 457th supplied the lead and low box of the 94th B Combat Wing. Major Spencer was Air Commander of the lead B box, with Captain Russell M. Selwyn as pilot, and Captain Jerry Godfrey was Commander of the low B box. The weather was CAVU over the target. Lead box's bombing results were good, and the low box's fair. Flak was light and inaccurate. The weather was poor on the return and Glatton was completely closed in, forcing all except two of the craft to divert to other bases.

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..."
  • 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.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 119.8 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 41 T

SAARBRUCKEN (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group, 492nd 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.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 893.5 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: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-692287 and 35714917
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Air Division 93rd Combat Bomb Wing 490th Bomb Group 851st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: A0704578
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator; Statistics

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Ruth-Marie
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Screw Ball
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 789th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: White Angel
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Bold Venture
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date27 May 2015 12:33:45
ChangesChanges to event
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:07
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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'.

445: Gallery (2 items)