VIII Bomber Command 22

22 November 1942

Official Description

11 HBs attack Lorient-Keroma 17 U-boat base.

Description

The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from bombing. The force is also joined by 8 B-24s from 93BG, but they also are prevented from bombing by cloud cover. This is the first bombing mission for 305BG even though they returned to Grafton Underwood with their bomb loads.

Mission Details

LORIENT/ KEROMAN (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Cloud cover prevents 91st Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group and 306th Bomb Group from bombing. There is no fighter escort for this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 22.00
  • Aircraft sent: 68
  • Aircraft effective: 11

LORIENT/ KEROMAN (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Cloud cover prevents bombing.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 8

Connections

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

People

Bertis W Holland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16019187
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Harold A Kinsey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15084364
  • Highest Rank: Staff 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

Ferrell A Mann

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15084564
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Lieutenant-Colonel Charles E. Marion, commanding officer of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored, but then cleared for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Here seen taking his cap from the rack at his British base Lt. Col. (Pilot) Charles E. Marion is commander of his group in the U.S. Air Force and has taken part in 11 raids on the Hun. Educated at Michigan University he has made the Army his career and at 32 years of age holds the Silver Star and Air Medal. His home is with his pare

Charles E Marion

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 1st Bomb Division 303rd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-021505
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Assistant Chief of Staff; Director of Operations; CO

Aircraft

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Nov-2014. Mission description based on "Mighty Eighth War Dairy" 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'.