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

Frederick A Hartung

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11020638
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Alfred V Heitman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18052972
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Engineer

George W Henderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19077322
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Durward Lee Hinds

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19039120
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Edward T Levering

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33067284
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

41-24605

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Ground crewmen of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Jerry Jinx". Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG'.

41-24607

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Jerry Jinx : What's Up Doc
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

41-24620

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Snap! Crackle! Pop!
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 42-2966), after a raid on Germany. From left to right they are: Sergeant Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Montana); Technical Sergeant Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, California); First Lieutenant Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio); Second Lieutenant John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa), Co-Pilot; Captain B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio), Pilot; Sergeant Jack Belk (Temple, Texas); Sergeant William Fleming (Burdine, Kentu

42-2966

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: No 11 Combat Crew Replacement Center No 1 Combat Crew Replacement Center 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

42-2967

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shak Hak
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th 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'.