VIII Bomber Command 10

6 September 1942

Official Description

30 B-17’s strike Avions Potez aircraft plant at Meaulte, while a smaller force bombs 2 A/Fs near Saint Omer. 12 DB-7’s attack Abbeville/Drucat A/F. 2 B-17’s are shot down over Meaulte by ftrs, marking VIII BC’s first loss of aircraft in combat.

Description

15BS despatches 12 DB-7 A-20 Boston IIIs to attack the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France; 92BG & 97BG together despatach 51 B-17s to bomb the Avion Portez aircraft factory ar Meaulte, France; 301BG despatches 13 B-17s to attack German airfield Longuenesse at St. Omer, France as the Primary (P) target. 2 of this element attack the German airfield Ft. Rouge at St. Omer, France.

Mission Details

ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc

Notes: 12 of 12 A-20s Boston III from 15th Bomb Squadron attack. No losses, claims or casualties.

A bomber crew of the 301st Bomb Group with their A-20 Havoc after being awarded medals. From left to right, they are Sergeant B.B. Cunningham of Tupelo, Missouri; Sergeant R.L. Golay of Fredonia, Kansas; Second Lieutenant M. Dorton of Long Beach; and Major Charles C. Kegelman. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 11 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Not to be published until 12/7/42.' [stamp], 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'USA (NIR)CCC.' [written annotation] and '209807.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on rev

15th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 12.00
  • Aircraft sent: 12
  • Aircraft effective: 12

MEAULTE

Description: AVION PORTEZ AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The 92nd Bomb Group flies its first mission. The 8th Air Force suffers it first loss of an aircraft in combat, the "Southern Belle", serial number 41-24445, w/Lipsky. There was no fighter escort for this mission.

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.

92nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 66.50
  • People killed in action: 10
  • People wounded in action: 5
  • Prisoners of war: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 19
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 20
  • Aircraft sent: 51
  • Aircraft effective: 30
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 7

ST OMER/ FORT ROUGES

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

301st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 2
  • Aircraft effective: 2

ST OMER/LONGUENESSE

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

301st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 21.60
  • Aircraft sent: 11
  • Aircraft effective: 11

Connections

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

People

William J Angliss

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36171665
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Robert I Benedict

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-442761
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Frank J Buck

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724194
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

Paul D Drain

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15058737
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Togglier

William B Dunbar

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6903580
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

41-24445

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Six Bits, Southern Belle
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942. This crew and plane were initially assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG).

41-9021

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Bitch/ Hangar Queen
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
The B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9026) nicknamed "Baby Doll" of the 92nd Bomb Group takes off. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Training American Bomber Crews In England, Sept. 1942. Preparing for the day when the might of the American and British Air Forces will strike together against the heart of Germany are many U.S. Army Air Corps bomber crews with their giant Flying Fortresses. They are completing their training over here at airfields which the Ameri

41-9026

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Baby Doll
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 342nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date24 Sep 2019 13:29:39
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to official description
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date15 Feb 2015 18:37:49
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to event
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Meualt per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date26 Oct 2014 18:34:34
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:16
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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'.