8th Air Force 221
13 February 1944Description
17 V-Wepons sites in France are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is divided into two separate forces: one force of B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division and one force of B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division. Mission summary follows:
2nd Bomb Division: A combined force of 192 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG, and 453BG are depatched to attack 5 V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de Calaise area of France. The sites are difficult to find and the bombers divert to bomb Maires Mins and German-occupied buldings as Targets of Opprotunity (TOs). 138 aircraft are effective on Maries Mine and 12 others are effective on German-occupied buildings. All aircraft managed to Return to Base (RTB), but 2 with battle damage are declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings - 20RTD. 57 aircraft are damaged. There are no claims on enemy aircraft in this force.
3rd Bomb Division: A combined force of 277 B-17s from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; and 447BG are despatched to bomb 12 V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. 266 aircraft are effective on a target. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 14KIA 11POW 15EVD. 2 aircraft with battle damage are declared Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in crash landings back in England - 1KIA 19RTD. 7 airmen in returning aircraft are KIA and 23 are WIA. 74 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners in this force claim 0-1-0 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
Description: INDUSTRIAL AREA
Notes: It has not been determined which Groups from 2nd Bomb Division attacked this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 33.00
- Aircraft sent: 12
- Aircraft effective: 12
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 12 sites are bombed. By 3rd Bomb Division Groups.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 734 T HE
- People killed in action: 21
- People wounded in action: 23
- People evaded: 15
- Prisoners of war: 11
- People returned to duty: 34
- Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 1
- Aircraft sent: 277
- Aircraft effective: 266
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 74
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 5 sites are bombed by 2nd Bomb Division Groups.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 404.00
- People returned to duty: 20
- Aircraft sent: 180
- Aircraft effective: 138
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 57
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: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33389045
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18193418
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37187168
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32549894
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809476
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Little Sheppard
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Quarterback
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Peggy Ann
- Unit: 1st Strategic Air Depot 25th Bomb Group 802nd Reconnaissance Group (SP) 94th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 2 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Berlin Bessie, I Dood It
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ice Cold Katie
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2016. Corrected statistics of 3BD B-17 force and added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman.
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'.