531
8 August 1944
Back L-R: Lt. K. Garrison (N), 2nd Lt. Frank Gudowski (OBS/TG), 2nd Lt. Cecil Hobdey (N), 2nd Lt. Alfred Hendrix (B), unidentified 1.
Front L-R: Capt. John Shelley (AC/CP), unidentified 2, unidentified 3, 1st Lt. James McCartney (P), SSgt. Clifford Snyder (FG), unidentified 4.
To Be Identified: TSgt. Morton Sapolin (RO), TSgt. Joseph Frisbee (TT), SSgt. Rufus Saunders (BT), SSgt. Wade Flannery (FG).
Object Number - UPL 66846 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews/8 August 1944, Bretteville sur Laize, France. Back L-R: Lt. K. Garrison (N), 2nd Lt. Frank Gudowski (OBS/TG), 2nd Lt....
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 213 T
Description: TROOP CONCENTRATION
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 324.8 T
Description: TROOP CONCENTRATION
Notes: This is another instance where heavy bombers were used in a tactical application with tragic results. 25 Canadian soldiers were killed and another 131 wounded by short bombing. It is not clear why this operation was approved as Gen. Eisenhower had forbid their use as a tactical weapon after the 25 June 44 debacle where Gen Leslie McNair had been killed. Apparently, because only British and Canadian troops were in the area, and because they had been stalled at Caen since at least the 15th of June, Field Marshal Montgomery convinced Eisenhower and the Staff of 8th AF to try this one more time to allows his 2nd Army to breakout of the stalemate. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd BG, 303rd BG,305th BG, 306th BG, 351st BG, 379th BG, 381st BG, 384th BG, 398th BG, 401st BG, 457th BG. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 94th BG, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th BG, 385th BG, 388th BG, 390th BG, 447th BG, 452nd BG.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 618.5 T
GOUVIX (Primary)
Description: TROOP CONCENTRATION
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 4.5 T
ST SYLVAN (Primary)
Description: TROOP CONCENTRATION
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 327 T
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss B Haven
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Go Getter
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fire Ball Red
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Casino
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Spam Can : Black Magic : Shady Lady
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
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'.