472

14 July 1944
media-23852.jpeg UPL 23852 Harold Motz, navigator in the Westrope crew, 708th squadron, 447th bomb group, summer and autumn of 1944. Navigation map of Eighth Air Force mission #472 to drop supplies to the French resistance in "Area 10", code-named "Cadillac", July 14, 1944.

Original map now in the collection of the Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton, Ohio. 447th Bomb Group collection

Timothy Motz

Object Number - UPL 23852 - Harold Motz, navigator in the Westrope crew, 708th squadron, 447th bomb group, summer and autumn of 1944. Navigation map of Eighth Air Force mission...

Mission Details

NORMANDY

Description: SUPPLY DROP TO FRENCH FORCES

Notes: OPERATION CADILLAC - 55th fighter group is converted from P-38s to P-51s, this gives the 8 AF a majority of P-51 groups to provide escort on long-range high-altitude missions. Conversion to P-51s by fighter groups will continue until the end of the war until every fighter group except one is converted. The bombers drop 3,700 containers of supplies to interior French forces. A mix of 465 P-47s and P-51s accompany the mission. Exact mix not determined from available data. Many of the supplies were packaged in small canisters, fourteen to sixteen inches long, these contained a folded up Sten gun and several clips of ammo. The Americans loading the canisters also include packages of American cigarettes. ___________________________________________________________________________ The 3rd Air Division was dispatched to France on a special mission in support of the French Maquis. All aircraft were loaded with C-3 type bombs. The 388th Bomb Group furnished three 12 aircraft Groups which composed the 45th C Combat Wing. Our 36 aircraft were airborne between 0340 and 0423 hours and there were no abortions. Some difficulty was encountered in forming due to darkness; after which, the briefed route to and from the target was followed. The target area was clear and the briefed recognition signals were easily recognized. Bombs were away from the prescribed altitude as follows: A Group at 0920 hours on a heading of 15 degrees. B Group at 0930 hours on a heading of 360 degrees and the C Group at 0932 hours on a heading of 345 degrees. Strike photos show excellent results for all Groups. No enemy fighters or flak was seen on this mission. Our aircraft returned to base at 1338 hours. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger). __________________________________________________________________________

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: NA

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13133678
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner / Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Berlin Bessie
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Baby Buggy
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Able Mabel
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spook Six
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Slipper
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger).

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'.

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