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.
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.
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
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
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36149570
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-800398
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Service Numbers: 32426103
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-672429
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot, Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16060584
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner / Radioman
Aircraft
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'.