8th Air Force 238

28 February 1944

Object Number - UPL 14556 - Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-41013 'Trouble' [nearest camera] of 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group over Cognac, France, 8 February 1944.

Description

A combined force of 258 B-17s are despatched from 1st and 3rd Air Divisions to bomb V-Weapon sites around the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. Mission Summary follows>

1st Air Division: 134 B-17s are despatched from: 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; and 384BG are despatched to bomb V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. 68 are effective on V-Weapon sites; 10 bomb the road junction east of Yerville, France and the railroad siding at Abbeville, France. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 8 KIA 10 POW 2 EVD. 30 aircraft are damaged. 3 airmen in returning aircraft are WIA .There are no other losses, claims or casualties.

1st Air Division: A combined force of 124 B-17 are dispatched from: 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 379BG; and 384BG to bomb V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. 41 are effective on V-Weapon sites and 6 others bomb Targets of Opportunity (TOs). 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 23 KIA 16 POW 1 EVD 9 RTD (rescued by ASR). 45 aircraft are damaged. 2 airmen in returning aircraft are WIA. There are no other losses, claims or casualties.

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: It has not been determined which 3rd Bomb Division Groups attacked this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 31.63
  • Aircraft sent: 6
  • Aircraft effective: 6

ABBEVILLE (Opportunistic)

Description: RAIL SIDING

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: It has not been determined which 1st Bomb Division Groups attacked this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 20.13
  • Aircraft sent: 7
  • Aircraft effective: 7

PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Weather causes many to abort. No claims.

The wreckage of a B-24 Liberator (GO-K) of the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group that has crash landed. A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 100th Bomb Group is in the background.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 117.88
  • People killed in action: 23
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 16
  • People returned to duty: 9
  • Aircraft sent: 115
  • Aircraft effective: 41
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged: 45

PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Heavy cloud cover causes more than half of the bombers despatched to abort. No claims.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 195.00
  • People killed in action: 8
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People evaded: 2
  • Prisoners of war: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 117
  • Aircraft effective: 68
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 30

Description: ROAD JUNCTION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: It has not been determined which 1st Bomb Division Groups attacked this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 28.75
  • Aircraft sent: 10
  • Aircraft effective: 10

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-685753
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-676530
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-667228
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13057861
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-752975 T42 43 A
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator, bombardier, nose gunner

Aircraft

Ground crew work of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Duchess". Passed for publication 20 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Famous Fortresses. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Ground crewmen at work on the Fortress "Duchess", which has already been on 50 missions over enemy territory. They are (left to right, lower): Sgt. Clyde L. Dewald, of 200 E Union St., Schnykill Haven, Penn.; and Sgt. James C. Hicks, of Rowtob, Henderson, K.Y.; (Upper) Cpl. Charles
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kayo
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Short Stride | Loma Lee | T.S.
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tenny Belle
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lassie Come Home
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date19 Oct 2020 20:58:00
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Description" - "returning" was misspelled.

Date11 Feb 2016 20:30:59
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:11
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'.

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