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.

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

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: Canadian
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34393410
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37495234
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane.  Six men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front.  Some of the men are  wearing  cold weather flying gear.  There are large canvas bags on the ground in front of the men.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665291
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38225387
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-669278
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31235) nicknamed 'Goin' Dog' of the 384th Bomb Group takes off for a mission. A censor has obscured the triangle P and serial number on the aircraft's tail. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 24 April 1944.' [stamp] and '313357.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Back from Berlin. Crews of US Fortress Station returning from the Berlin raid which took place recently. 34320. A Fortress takes off- destination Berlin
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Goin' Dog
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: She's My Gal II aka Junior
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shack Rabbit
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nuttal's Nut House
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Roarin Bill
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th 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)