VIII Air Support Command 16A

9 August 1943

Description

This mission of VIII Air Support Command was conducted with two elements and designated as mission 11A and 11B both of which had the German airfield of Ft. Rouge at St. Omer, France as the target. The "A" element is a formation of 36 B-26s despatched from 386BG. Could cover on the target prevented bombing. There are no losses or claims in this element, although 4 aircraft are damaged by anti-aircraft fire.

Mission Details

ST OMER/FT ROUGE

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder

Notes: Clouds prevented bombing. One B-26-B is lost over France to friendly fire from a Spitfire when it was misidentified by the fighter pilot. Tail number 41-31634, MACR 164. This was not included in the loss total for this mission. 6Killed in Action (KIA)

Lieutenant James T. Wilson and Lieutenant Robert J. Owen of the 386th Bomb Group in the cockpit of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279545.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. The B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People wounded in action: 6
  • Aircraft sent: 36
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 4

Connections

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

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 386th Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (RG-P, serial number 41-31633) nicknamed "Hot Pistol". Image via Chester P Klier. Printed caption on reverse: '552nd BS, 386th BG. A/C name: Hot Pistol, A/C Ser no. 41-31633 RG-P. Crew left to right: 1-A/C: Lynch H Everhart, 2-E/G: Eugene Hood, 3-C/P: James W Bryant, 4- Pilot Justin C Lubojasky, 5: B/N Amar Adranigan, 6- R/G: Socrates N Triantafellu.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Hot Pistol
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty EIghth War Dairy", 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'.