8th Air Force 238

28 February 1944
media-14556.jpeg UPL 14556 Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-41013 'Trouble' [nearest camera] of 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group over Cognac, France, 8 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 insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • 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.

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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear, six men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are on the ground in front of kneeling men.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-522720
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Co-Pilot / Commander
The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687180
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36276991
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Waist Gunner / Nose Gunner / Togglier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11 115 478
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Airplane Mechanic Gunner 748 - Waist Gunner

Aircraft

Ten Knights in a Bar Room
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ten Knights in a Bar Room
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Liberty Run
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th 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: Miss Billie Jr
  • Unit: 482nd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lazy Daisy
  • Unit: 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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

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'.

8th Air Force 238: Gallery (2 items)