RAF Bomber Command

4 July 1942
A bomber crew of the 301st Bomb Group with their A-20 Havoc after being awarded medals. 

Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photograph.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 July 1942.', 'USA(NIR)CCC.'[written annotation] and '209852.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'After receiving awards for U.S. Independence Day raid on Holland New York Times Photo shows: Major Charles C Kegelman (second from right) with his bomber crew after he had received the American D.S.C. for part he took in th media-378784.jpg FRE 915 A bomber crew of the 15th Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group with an RAF Douglas Boston of No 226 Squadron, after being awarded medals, 4 July 1942.

Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photograph.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 July 1942.', 'USA(NIR)CCC.'[written annotation] and '209852.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'After receiving awards for U.S. Independence Day raid on Holland New York Times Photo shows: Major Charles C Kegelman (second from right) with his bomber crew after he had received the American D.S.C. for part he took in the United States bomber raid on the Nazis in Holland on Independence Day July 4th. Left to Right Sgt Bennie Cunningham, T/Sgt Robert Golay, Major Charles C Kegelman and Lt Randall Dorton 11.7.42' Roger Freeman Collection

Added spaces to the Caption for readability.

Object Number - FRE 915 - A bomber crew of the 15th Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group with an RAF Douglas Boston of No 226 Squadron, after being awarded medals, 4 July 1942....

Official Description

First AAF air operation over Western Europe. 15th Bomb Squadron, flying 6 American-built Bostons belonging to RAF, join RAF low-level attack on 4 airfields in the Netherlands. Aircraft flown by Captain Charles C Kegelman, Squadron CO, is severely damaged, but Kegelman succeeds in bringing it back to base at Swanton Morley.

Description

Bomber Command War Diaries:

12 Bostons were dispatched in 4 flights of 3 aircraft each, in low-level attacks on 4 Dutch airfields: De Koog, Bergen, Haamstede and Valkenburg. As it was American Independence Day, 6 of the planes were crewed by members of VIII Bomber Command. Intense light flak was encountered at the Dutch coast and at the targets and 3 Boston crews were shot down, all of the aircraft lost being crewed by Americans.



12 A-20 Boston III from 226 Squadron RAF are despatched from Swanton Morley to bomb four German airfields in Holland: De Koog airfield, Bergen/Alkamaar airfield, Haanstede airfield and Valkenberg airfield. 6 are . are borrowed from 226 Squadron and flown by American pilots of the 15th Bombardment Squadron.

Mission Details

BERGEN / ALKMAAR

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc

Notes: Two of the US-crewed aircraft attack De Koog Airfield and one, tail number A677, is listed Missing in Action (MIA). This aircraft is shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashes on Texel Island, Holland. The crew are: Pilot - 2Lt. Frederick A. Loehrl, O-432079, (KIA) commemorated on the Wall of Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery and awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart; Navigator - 2Lt. Marshall D. Draper O-724624, (POW) held at Stalag 7A Moosburg, Bavaria, officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 24-Jul-45. He was the first American airman form 8th Air Force to be captured; Gunner - James W. Wright, 19000376, (KIA) buried at Ardennes American Cemetery, Plot C, Row 36, Grave 7, awarded the Purple Heart; Dorsal Gunner - Sgt. Robert L. Whitham (KIA). His remains were recovered on 11-Jul-42 and he was buried in the general cemetery of Huisduinen, Den Helder, Holland.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 6
  • Aircraft effective: 1
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

DE KOOG

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc

Notes: Two 8th Air Force-crewed Bostons (A-20) are-assigned to this target. One is flown by CAPT. Charles C. Kegelman and his three crewmen: Navigator - Lt. Dorton; Gunner - SGT Cunningham; and Dorsal Gunner - SGT Golay. Captain Kegelman and his crew are awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (11-Jul-42) by GEN Ira Eaker for their participation in this mission. The aircraft was badly damaged but Captain Kegelman was able to return it to the UK. Captain Kegelman was killed in the Pacific theater in 1944 when commanding a B-25 Group. The other A-20, tail number AL741 was listed as Missing in Action (MIA) on this target. This aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Bergen-aan-Zee, Holland. The crew of this aircraft were: Pilot - 2Lt William G. Lynn, O-432081, (KIA) buried at Netherlands American Cemetery, Plot B, Row 5, Grave 10, awarded the Purple Heart; Navigator - 2Lt Boyd S. Grant, buried in the Allied Plot of the general cemetery of Bergen, Holland; Gunner - SSgt William A. Murphy, (KIA) buried in the Allied Plot of the general cemetery of Bergen, Holland; Dorsal Gunner Cpl Charles P. Kramarewicz, 1109157, (KIA) buried at Netherlands American Cemetery, Plot I, Row 14, Grave 18, awarded the Purple Heart.

Mission Statistics

  • People killed in action: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 2
  • Aircraft effective: 2
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

HAAMSTEDE

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc

Notes: One 8th Air Force-crewed Boston (A-20) attacks this target.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 1
  • Aircraft effective: 1

VALKENBERG

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc

Notes: Two 8th Air Force-crewed Bostons (A-20) attack this target with no losses or casualties.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 2
  • Aircraft effective: 2

Connections

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

People

Second-Lieutenant Randall Dorton of the 301st Bomb Group smokes a cigarette after receiving the Dintinguished Flying Cross. Image stamped on reverse: 'Graphic Photo Union' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN PILOTS DECORATED. Pilots of the American Army Air Corps, who celebrated American Independence Day (July 4th) by taking part with the RAF in a daylight bombing raid on German occupied territory in Europe, were today decorated at an aerodrome somewhere in England [censor has ammended this to r
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724264
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 15th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
A bomber crew of the 301st Bomb Group with their A-20 Havoc after being awarded medals. 

Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photograph.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 July 1942.', 'USA(NIR)CCC.'[written annotation] and '209852.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'After receiving awards for U.S. Independence Day raid on Holland New York Times Photo shows: Major Charles C Kegelman (second from right) with his bomber crew after he had received the American D.S.C. for part he took in th
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 15th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-22412
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 15th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11019157
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Dorsal Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 27th Fighter Group 15th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 15th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Middlebrook and Everitt, Bomber Command War Diaries

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

USAAF Combat Chronology

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the Description. The name of the De Koog airfield was misspelled.

Date
Contributormattattack
Changes
Sources

Personal knowledge

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated media based on images associated with mission in Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Nov-2014. Minor edit to description De Kooij

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Oct-2014 People connections extracted from my database and information of "Losses of the 8th and 9th air Forces" Stan Bishop and John A. Hey MBE

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Oct-2014, POW service numbers from National Archives Records Administration; burial locations in American Cemeteries from American Battle Monuments Commission. Mission details from Roger A. Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Diary."

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham, 17-Oct-2014, Roger A. Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Diary."

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Oct-2014, Roger A. Freeman's "Eighth AIr Force War Diary"

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'.

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