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

Antone Pacheco

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11018679
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Homer T Perkins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18032511
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Engineer

Bliss David Purinton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6571977
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
First Lieutenant Ehle H. Reber and Captain Lloyd R. Cole, both of the 303rd Bomb Group, relax in Reber's quarters. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 25 Jan 1943.' [stamp] and '245295.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'How the boys live and work at Flying Fortress Station in England. Wide World Photo shows: 1st Lieut. Ehle H. Reber, Malin, Oregon (left) and Captain Lloyd R. Cole, Winchester, KY. In Reber's quarters, which, as you see, he's turned into a

Ehle H Reber

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-414648
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arthur E Reddig

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-435992
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

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'.