VIII Bomber Command 10
6 September 1942Official 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.
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.
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
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 2
- Aircraft effective: 2
ST OMER/LONGUENESSE
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 21.60
- Aircraft sent: 11
- Aircraft effective: 11
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19021083
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16034431
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18046966
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Meualt per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.
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'.