VIII Bomber Command 17
8 November 1942Official 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.
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.
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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-659878
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-437909
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O438025
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31218730
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660982
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Abbeville per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 29-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop http://www.usaaf.net/chron/42/nov42.htm
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'.