VIII Bomber Command 21

18 November 1942

Official Description

VIII BC conducts missions against 3 U-boat bases. 19 HBs attack at La Pallice, 13 at Lorient Keroman, and 19 at Saint-Nazaire.

Description

The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed of 13 B-24s from 93; La Pallice is attacked by a combined element of 31 B-17s from 91BG (17) and 306BG (14). In addition, a diversion for the La Pallice force is flown by 20 B-17s from 305BG; and another diversion is flown by 6 B-24s from 44BG.

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Diversion for La Pallice raid.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 20
  • Aircraft effective: 20

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Diversion for Lorient raid

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 6
  • Aircraft effective: 6

LA PALLICE (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft are displayed on this event for statistical purposes and represent the bundled total of bomber gunner claims on VIII BC Mission 21.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 32.00
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 31
  • Aircraft effective: 21
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

LORIENT/ KEROMAN (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 39.00
  • People killed in action: 5
  • People wounded in action: 8
  • Aircraft sent: 13
  • Aircraft effective: 13
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 3

SAINT-NAZAIRE (Opportunistic)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The actual briefed target was La Pallice, but the 303rd mistook St. Nazaire for La Pallice even though they are 100 miles away from each other.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 47.50
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 21
  • Aircraft effective: 19
  • Aircraft damaged: 15

Connections

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

People

Alexander S Grieb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11021358
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Anton H Haas

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724266
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

George F Hall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033050
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Delbert H Hall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17036220 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Staff Sergeant Edward Z. Harmonof the 303rd Bomb Group checks the gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24619). Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'S/Sgt. Edward Z. Harmon, gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, examines the sights of his gun before another raid. He has already been on 14, and holds the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. He comes from Tule Lake, Cal., and is 33 years old. He formerly worked as a tunneller. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Harmon,

Edward Z Harmon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39091359
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

41-24584

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Susfu
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
A B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24585) formerly of the 303rd Bomb Group, in Luftwaffe markings after being captured by the Germans. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG lost 12/12/42.'

41-24585

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wulfe Hound
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

41-24587

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Check
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

41-24602

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Yardbird II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Ground crew of "The Green Hornet". Left to right, Cpl. William E. Bowers, Route 1, Elkhart, Ind.; M/Sgt. Joseph R. Dufresne, 30 Lathrop Street, South Hadley Falls, Mass.; M/Sgt. Fletcher Hecton, 518 Twentyfirst Street, Denver, Col.; Sgt. Richard Borgl

41-24603

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Green Hornet
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added bundled Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on La Pallice fror VIII BC Mission 21 per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-Nov-2014. Mission description provided by Mr. Cunningham 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'.