8th Air Force 248
5 March 1944
Object Number - UPL 31873 - 42-100414 flight crew after crash landing in La Croix-Comtesse, France
Description
The German airfields at Mont-de-Marsan, Cayeux and Bordeaux/Merginac, France were the primary targets for this mission. Weather and clouds frustrate bombing attempts and formations bomb other secondary targets and targets of last resort. Mission Summary follows:
2nd Air Division: A combined force of 219 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 453BG; and 458BG are despatched. 63 are effective on the German airfields at Bergerac, France (Secondary); 60 are effective on the German airfield Cognac/Chateau-Bernard, France (Last Resort); 41 are effective on the German airfield at Landes-de-Bussac, France (Secondary an Last Resort); and 1 bombs the German airfield at La Roche, France. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 4POW(1 DIC) 8EVD 6RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash on take off - 11RTD. 23 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman aboard a returning aircraft is WIA. The bomber gunners claim 14-2-5 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.
Mission Details
BERGERAC (Secondary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined exactly which 2nd Bomb Division Groups bombed this target so the entire 2nd Air Division participating units are included here as well as the bomber gunner claims.
- 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: 148.18
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 13
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 5
- Aircraft sent: 62
- Aircraft effective: 62
BORDEAUX/MERIGNAC (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
CAYEUX (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which 2nd Bomb Division Groups bombed this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 143.40
- Aircraft sent: 60
- Aircraft effective: 60
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which 2nd Bomb Division aircraft bombed this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 2.39
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: It has not been determined which 2nd Bomb Division Groups bombed this target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 98.00
- Aircraft sent: 41
- Aircraft effective: 41
MONT DE MARSAN (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Bad weather forces mission to change targets and many abort. These raids on Luftwaffe airfields are the beginnings of assuring that the Allies will have air supremacy for the D-Day invasion. Groups participating are those in 2nd Bomb Division.
- 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
- People killed in action: 4
- People wounded in action: 1
- People evaded: 8
- Prisoners of war: 4
- People died in captivity: 1
- People returned to duty: 17
- Aircraft sent: 55
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 2
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: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16133962
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner, Third Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11062335 on enlisting
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-804331
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Air Division 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747814
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-677813
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Ye Olde Hellgate
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Lucky Strike
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Little Sheppard
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
![A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group prepare to board their B-24 Liberator, (serial number 41-28733) nicknamed "Rhapsody in Junk", for a mission, whilst ground crew refuel the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], ' Passed for publication 28 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '317857.' [Censor no.] Printed caption attached to the reverse: ROUND THE CLOCK BOMBERS. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS: As the ground crew refuels, the crew of a Liberator at a U.S. Bomber Base " somewhere in England"](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380728.jpg.webp?itok=-TGVZcAF)
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Rhapsody in Junk
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 18-Feb-2016. Added statistics to Bergerac element based on "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy" and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 18-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", 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'.