VIII Bomber Command 24

6 December 1942
A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group, in formation returning from Lille. Printed caption on reverse: 'Vapor trails made by Boeing B-17's returning from Lille, France. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'KY-A, 25085?. KY-B, 124591 "Rigor Mortis". KY-C, 25078. JJ-Q, 25060. JJ-R, 123614 "Snafu". XK-U "Wham Bam". XK-P "Flapper". media-379953.jpg FRE 923 A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group, in formation returning from Lille. Printed caption on reverse: 'Vapor trails made by Boeing B-17's returning from Lille, France. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'KY-A, 25085?. KY-B, 124591 "Rigor Mortis". KY-C, 25078. JJ-Q, 25060. JJ-R, 123614 "Snafu". XK-U "Wham Bam". XK-P "Flapper". Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 923 - A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group, in formation returning from Lille. Printed caption on reverse: 'Vapor trails made by...

Official Description

36 HBs attack Atelier d’Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille while a smaller group of aircraft bomb Abbeville/Drucat A/F.

Description

The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.

Also, a combined force of 86 B-17s despatched from 91BG (22); 303BG (20) and 305BG (24) are sent to bomb the Atelier d'Hellemmes locomotive works at Lille, France. 43 of these are effective on the target and only 4 of these are from 305BG. 1 B-17 MIA.

A combined force of 6 B-17s from 11th Combat Crew Replacement Center (Bovington) and 16 B-17s from 306BG are despatched on a diversion, but the 6 from 11th CCRC are recalled while in form-up over their base and the 16 from 306BG just fly a mock diversion.

Mission Details

RECALLED

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 11th Combat Crew Replacement Center (CCRC), Bovington. got recalled while still over their base during form-up.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 6

Description: MOCK DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 16

ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: 44th Bomb Group was recalled but on BS did not get the message and continued to the target. There is no fighter escort for this element.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 55.50
  • People killed in action: 10
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 19
  • Aircraft effective: 6
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

LILLE (Primary)

Description: ATELIER D'HELLEMMES LOCOMOTIVE WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: There is no fighter escort for this element.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 100.00
  • People killed in action: 10
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 5
  • Aircraft sent: 66
  • Aircraft effective: 37
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

Connections

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

People

Cecil E Craft

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16052774
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner; Radio Operator

Charles S Dick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31033519
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Earle J Dumont

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726886
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Bruce W Gordon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728197
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Frank W Greene

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36306227
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner, GC

Aircraft

The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'

41-24569

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Tot
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (VK-D, serial number 41-24577) nicknamed "Hell's Angel" of the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group in flight. Passed for publication 21 Aug 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Hell's Angel. L1721/29.' Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A Flying Fortress wearing the new recognition symbol of the U.S.A.A.F. and fitted with toughened glass "windows" in the air.' On reverse: The Aeroplane Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps

41-24577

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Angels
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24579) of the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30/6/43.'

41-24579

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

41-24580

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hellcat Agnes : No Monkey Business
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. 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:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Cens

41-24581

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball
  • 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 Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Abbeville per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated media based on images associated with mission in Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014. Associations for 11th CCRC.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014. Place connections.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014. Edit to mission detail.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014, Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

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'.

VIII Bomber Command 24: Gallery (1 items)