VIII Bomber Command 25

12 December 1942

Official Description

17 HBs bomb Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. Bad weather prevents large attack planned for air installations at Romilly-sur-Seine.

Description

This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is obscured by clouds so the force attacks the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville as a target of last resort (L), but clouds frustrate bombing and only 17 aircraft are effective and none of the 21 despatched by 305BG are able to bomb.

Second element: A force of 12 B-24s are despatched on a diversionary attack on the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France. These are joined by 6 B-17s despatched by 11th Combat Crew Replacement Center. The airfield is not bombed.

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 6

ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Cloud prevented bombing.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 12

ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE (Primary)

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 305th Bomb Group could not bomb because of cloud cover.

Mission Statistics

  • People wounded in action: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 21
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

ROUEN/ SOTTEVILLE (Last Resort)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: No fighter escort for any of the elements in this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 40.00
  • People killed in action: 2
  • People wounded in action: 8
  • People evaded: 9
  • Prisoners of war: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 19
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 60
  • Aircraft effective: 17
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 10

Connections

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

People

George B Dominick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724152
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

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
Sergeant Bernard Aleys Gergash, of the 303rd Bomb Group, fills a water bucket. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238749.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '32a. Filling the bucket is Sgt. Bernard Aleys Gergash, of 1025 Union Ave., Chicago Heights. Aged 24, he worked as a radio operator with the C.A.A.'

Bernard A Gergash

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36302819
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

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

41-24582

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: One O'Clock Jump
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

41-24584

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Susfu
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
A B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24585) formerly of the 303rd Bomb Group, in Luftwaffe markings after being captured by the Germans. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG lost 12/12/42.'

41-24585

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

41-24587

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Check
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". 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:- Ground crew of "The Green Hornet". Left to right, Cpl. William E. Bowers, Route 1, Elkhart, Ind.; M/Sgt. Joseph R. Dufresne, 30 Lathrop Street, South Hadley Falls, Mass.; M/Sgt. Fletcher Hecton, 518 Twentyfirst Street, Denver, Col.; Sgt. Richard Borgl

41-24603

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Green Hornet
  • 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 Rouen per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Nov-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman; "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'.