VIII Bomber Command 20

17 November 1942

Official Description

35 HBs pound U-boat pens at Saint-Nazaire with 102 tons of bombs.

Description

The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The 303BG made a navigational error and was not able to find the target, so their 16 B-17s were not able to bomb. The German airfield of Maupertus at Cherbourg, France was the Primary (P) target for 6 B-24s despatched from 44BG, but the target was totally obscured by clouds, so they could not bomb. In other action, 10 B-17 despatched from 305BG fly a diversion for this St. Nazaire bombing element. This was 305BG's first mission.

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Diversion for St. Nazaire raid.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 10
  • Aircraft effective: 10

CHERBOURG/ MAUPERTUS (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Target obscured by 10/10 cloud cover.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 6

SAINT- NAZAIRE (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The 303rd Bomb Group and 305th Bomb Group fly their first mission. 303rd Bomb Group was unable to find the target so none of their 16 B-17s were able to bomb. There is no fighter escort for this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 57.50
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People returned to duty: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 6
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 49
  • Aircraft effective: 23
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

SAINT-NAZAIRE (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 36.00
  • Aircraft sent: 14
  • Aircraft effective: 12
  • Aircraft damaged: 7

Connections

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

People

Lieutenant-Colonel George L Robinson, a pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group, reads an English newspaper. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Colonel George L. Robinson, bomber pilot, serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain finds English newspapers a little strange. Aged 30, he has been on 8 raids and holds the Air Medal and two clusters. He was in the Regular Army befo

George L Robinson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-22362
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer; Pilot
Major Eugene Allen Romig, an airman of the 303rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257539.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Holder of the D.F.C. and Air Medal, Major Eugene Allen Romig, aged 25, is now serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain as a pilot. His home address is 910 Troy Place, N.W. Canton, Ohio, and in civil life he was a student. U 76. Not to be published before April 20, 1943.'

Eugene Allen Romig

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 457th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (351st Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-21856
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Sergeant Charles L. Roth, a ground crewman of the 303rd Bomb Group, fixes the nose turret gun of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?'. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238765.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'HE WANTS A STEAK IN CHICAGO. 20-year-old Sgt Charles L. Roth, of 6533 Meneriva Avenue, has an army job which suits him down to the ground - or up in the air. In c

Charles L Roth

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18069118
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Donald H Rutt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033430
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Harry T Sample

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661872
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on 19BG,303BG,306BG St Nazaire per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 2-Nov-2014. Aulenbach association.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 2-Nov-2014. Corrected place association for 93 BG.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 2-Nov-2014. 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'.