VIII Bomber Command 24
6 December 1942
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
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-726071
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- 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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378909.jpg.webp?itok=wj-qwQe0)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-414648
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35292580
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
![Major Eugene Allen Romig, an airman of the 303rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257539.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Holder of the D.F.C. and Air Medal, Major Eugene Allen Romig, aged 25, is now serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain as a pilot. His home address is 910 Troy Place, N.W. Canton, Ohio, and in civil life he was a student. U 76. Not to be published before April 20, 1943.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378848.jpg.webp?itok=jP_Kjg-S)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 457th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (351st Bomb Group)
- Service Numbers: O-21856
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Aircraft
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Abbeville per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Associated media based on images associated with mission in Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary
Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014, Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.
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'.