VIII Bomber Command 101
23 September 1943Description
This mission was actually flown by two different formations as two missions but it only went into the records as a single 8th Air Force mission. The combined force was composed of 91 B-17s from 92BG (17); 303BG (19); 306BG (18); 379BG (19) and 384BG (18) despatched to bobm the port area of Nantes, France and the German airfield of Rennes/St. Jacques, France. 61 of the 91 were affective on the Nantes port area. No aircraft were lost from the Nantes formation but one aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DRB) in a crash landing upon return 10RTD. 10 airmen were wounded. 19 of 91 were effective on the airfield at Rennes/ St. Jacques, France. Two aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 17POW 3EVD. 2 airmen were wounded. 26 aircraft were damaged.
Mission Details
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Diversion for raids on Nantes and Rennes/St. Jacques, France.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 26
NANTES (Primary)
Description: HARBOUR INSTALLATION
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: First occasion that two Heavy bomber missions are flown in the same day.
- 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: 174.00
- People killed in action: 3
- People evaded: 7
- Prisoners of war: 7
- People returned to duty: 7
- Aircraft sent: 72
- Aircraft effective: 61
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 16
RENNES/ST. JACQUES (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- 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: 57.00
- People killed in action: 7
- People evaded: 4
- Prisoners of war: 9
- Aircraft sent: 19
- Aircraft effective: 19
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 10
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: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32478396
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group Can Do 365th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39179671
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner / Ball turret gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794662
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Destiny's Tot | Cincinnati Queen | Kathy Jane III
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Winnie The Pooh, Flak Wolf
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Barrel House Bessie
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wahoo II
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 369th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 28-Jun-2015. Added Mission Description based on "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'.