VIII Bomber Command 12

26 September 1942

Official 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.

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • 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.

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

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 19

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

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'.