VIII Bomber Command 17

8 November 1942

Official Description

41 HBs bomb the Abbeville/Drucat A/F and the Atelier d’Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille.

Description

Two Primary (P) targets are the objects of this mission: the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France and the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille, France. 91BG despatches 15 B-17s to Abbeville and 301BG and 306BG despatch a combined force of 38 B-17s to Lille. This is the last mission for 301BG with the 8th AF in the ETO.

Mission Details

ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: There is no fighter support for this mission.

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 27.50
  • People wounded in action: 5
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 15
  • Aircraft effective: 11
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 4

LILLE (Primary)

Description: ATCLIER D'HELLEMMES RR WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: This is the last combat mission for the 301st Bomb Group with 8th Air Force. They have flown 8 missions in 104 sorties and dropped 186 tons of bombs. They were re-assignedto 12th Air Force 14-Sep-42 and later with 15th Air Force operating from bases in Italy. The Spitfires from 4th Fighter Group are sent as support for the bombers only on their withdrawal from the target.

301st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.

306th Bomb Group

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

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 73.25
  • People killed in action: 5
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 4
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 10
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 13
  • Aircraft sent: 38
  • Aircraft effective: 31
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 8

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Richard Douglas Adams

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-424871
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

William M Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-789362
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Haley W Aycock

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-?
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Rex O Barker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36168719
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
First Lieutenant Harold Beasley,of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress. Press caption for image series: ‘EXCLUSIVE PICTURES AS CREWS RETURN FROM RAID. Night and Day air blitz of enemy continues. “Forts” smash Axis factories at Antwerp. Raid carried out by crews who took part in Paris raid previous day. The greatest air offensive in history is being carried out by the Anglo-American air forces. For 72 hours bombs have been crashing down on Hitler’s Europe in the West almost nonstop. A

Harold H Beasley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-379237
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

King George VI passes a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24352) nicknamed "Holey Joe" as he meets personnel of the 301st Bomb Group during a royal visit. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Central Press Photos Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 13 Nov 1942.' [stamp], 'P (KING) CCC(USA).'[written annotation] and '232594.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse of the image however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '301 , 124352?, Alconbury?.'

41-24352

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holey Joe
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 352nd Bomb Squadron

41-24570

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Panhandle Dogie
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
The crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress (OR-T, serial number 42-5077) nicknamed "Delta Rebel No II" at Bassingbourn. Image stamped on reverse: ’Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 24 Mar 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 24 MAR 1943 INTLD 32 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp on appendage]. 'Associated Press' [stamp]. '254760' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES DAY RAID ON WILHELMSHAVEN The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attac

42-5077

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Delta Rebel No. 2
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date24 Sep 2019 13:53:10
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to official description
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date15 Feb 2015 19:05:38
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to event
Sources

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

Date15 Feb 2015 19:04:50
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to event
Sources

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

Date29 Oct 2014 18:29:51
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 29-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop http://www.usaaf.net/chron/42/nov42.htm

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:16
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
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'.