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

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 63.4 T

Description: OIL DEPOT

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 40 T

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 72 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 26 T

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 127.1 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 91.1 T

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.  

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 119.8 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 41 T

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.

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: 467th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 788th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810948
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-812653
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-672869
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14047962
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lilly Belle
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 398th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 579th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51110) nicknamed "Top O' the Mark.' The crew are: (back row, left to right) Carl Johnson - Nose Gunner, Chuck Frazer - Gunner, Charles Gretz - Top Turret Gunner, "Bubba" Monroe - Co-Pilot, (front row, left to right) Dick Eselgroth - Navigator, Al Miller - Bombardier, Billy Duke - Pilot "Luke" Lucas - Radio Operator, Baldamore Garcia - Engineer, "Pan" Panarese - Tail Gunner . Image via RM Eselgroth. Written on slide casing: '
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Top O The Mark
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron
Two B-24 Liberators, "273" (left) and (serial number 42-51171) (right) of the 467th Bomb Group after a ground collision. Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-51171, Q2-? (ex-492 BG) was being given pre-flight checks by C/C & assistant C/C. All four engines were running at 1500 RPM for generator output when a/c jumped over wheel chocks, crossed runway and crashed into a/c 273. Both a/c loaded with bombs but none exploded.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Eli Swof, Jr
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron 790th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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 (3 items)