VIII Bomber Command 11

7 September 1942

Official Description

7 B-17’s of 29 dispatched, ineffectively raid the Wilton shipyards at Rotterdam in bad weather. 2 HBs seek T/Os in vicinity of Utrecht. Heavy ftr opposition is successfully repulsed with bmr crews claiming 12 destroyed.

Description

97BG despatches 15 B-17s to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland; 301BG despatches 14 B-17s to bomb targets of opportunity (O) in and around Utrecht, Holland.

Mission Details

ROTTERDAM

Description: SHIP YARD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: There is no fighter escort for this mission.

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
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 17.50
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People returned to duty: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 8
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 7
  • Aircraft sent: 15
  • Aircraft effective: 4
  • Aircraft damaged: 3

UTRECHT

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

301st Bomb Group

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 5.00
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 6
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 5
  • Aircraft sent: 14
  • Aircraft effective: 5
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Connections

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People

Julius Lemeul Kleiman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12014553
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

41-9074

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

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'.