VIII Bomber Command 18
9 November 1942Official Description
VIII BC attacks U-boat base at Saint-Nazaire from reduced altitude. 12 B-24’s at 17,500 to 18,300 ft suffer little AA damage, but 31 B-17’s at 7,500 to 10,000 ft lose 3 of their number and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends experiment with low-level attacks of HBs against submarine bases.
Description
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the target of this mission conducted by a combined force of 33 B-17s from 91BG and 306BG together with a combined force of 14 B-24s from 44BG and 93BG. The B-24 formation bombs from altitudes between 17,500 ft. to 18,300 ft. The B-17 formation are ordered to bomb from altitudes between 7,500 ft. to 10,000 ft. in hopes of increasing bombing accuracy and concentration on the target. The B-17 formation is pounded by anti-aircraft fire with three aircraft lost and another 22 taking damage. This is the last time heavy bombers will attempt low-level approaches.
Mission Details
SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: The B-17s try to attack from a low altitude (7,500 to 10,000 feet), lose 3 and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends the experiment with low-level attacks by heavy bombers against submarine pens. There is no fighter escort for this mission.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 68.50
- People killed in action: 23
- Prisoners of war: 8
- Aircraft sent: 33
- Aircraft effective: 31
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 22
SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: The B-24s attack from 17,500 to 18,000 feet and only one suffers AA damage.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 45.00
- Aircraft sent: 14
- Aircraft effective: 12
- Aircraft damaged: 1
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13042704
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19074674
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-724139
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-435239
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31075801
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 30-Oct-2014. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.
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'.