VIII Bomber Command 12
26 September 1942Official Description
Approximately 75 HBs are dispatched to attack Cherbourg, Maupertus and Morlaix/Poryeau A/Fs and to execute diversionary sweeps. All bombers return without bombing their targets due to adverse weather.
Description
97BG and 301BG together despatch 45 B-17s to bomb the German airfields of Maupertus near Cherbourg and Porjeau at Morlaix, France. 301BG is recalled because the fighter escort of p-38s from 1FG is recalled. The 97BG aborts the mission over the Bay of Biscay. An entire fight (11) Spitfires of 133 Squadron RAF flown by American pilots to escort the bombers is destroyed by German fighters.
Mission Details
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Diversion for Cherbourg/Morlaix raid.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 30
- Aircraft effective: 16
CHERBOURG/ MAUPERTUS (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 301st Bomb Group recalled because fighter escort was recalled.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 36
MORLAIX/ PLOUJEAN (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 97th Bomb Group aborts over Bay of Biscay mission due to could cover.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 19
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "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'.