VIII Bomber Command 26

20 December 1942
Dan W. Corson UPL 73792 UPL 73792 Dan W. Corson, pilot, 91st BG.

Photo from Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron VIII Bomber Command 26 41-24432 On

Object Number - UPL 73792 - Dan W. Corson, pilot, 91st BG.

Official Description

72 HBs attack air de pot at Romilly-sur-Seine in effective raid. 6 bmrs are lost to ftrs.

Description

The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.



Also, 44BG despatches 21 B-24s to the German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. 12 are effective on the target with no losses. 1 damaged.

Mission Details

ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE (Primary)

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: No fighter escort on this mission. 2LT Conrad Farr, Bombardier Killed in Action (KIA) 306th Bomb Group on B-17 serial number 41-24498.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 141.28
  • People killed in action: 32
  • People wounded in action: 12
  • People evaded: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 24
  • People returned to duty: 20
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 51
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 13
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 8
  • Aircraft sent: 80
  • Aircraft effective: 60
  • Aircraft missing in action: 7
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 29

ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE (Primary)

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24.22
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • Enemy aircraft probably destroyed by fighter: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 21
  • Aircraft effective: 12
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Connections

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

People

Edwin D Byrdic

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Squadron 91st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 14048825
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
Staff Sergeant Clarence S. Commes of the 303rd Bomb Group, examines the machine-gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'When we asked S/Sgt Clarence S. Commes of 3612, Bret Hark Court, Sacramento, California, what he did in private life he answered "Whatever I could find to do." Today with the U.S. Air Force in Britain he has a man-size job as a gunner who has taken part in 16 raids. For this he has been awarded the Air Medal and 2 clusters. Aged 25

Clarence S Coomes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19012491
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
Dan W. Corson

Daniel Winstead Corson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-789375
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

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

Daniel D DeButts

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-659674
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

41-24562

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sky Wolf
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Corporal Murray S. Pearl, of the 303rd Bomb Group, with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24565) nicknamed "Idaho Potato Peeler". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘245656.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Cpl. Murray S. Pearl, serving with the U.S.A.A.F in a bomber squadron, appreciates the heavy fur-lined jerkin issued to him, for, in private life, he was a fur manufacturer at 222 West 28th Stre

41-24565

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Ramblin' Wreck : Idaho Potato Peeler
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

41-24566

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Zombie
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Peter Soria of the 303rd Bomb Group swings the propellor of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238766.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Naturally most U.S. boys in Britain wish they were back home and Sergt. Peter Soria of the U.S. Air Corps is no exception. He sends a message to that effect to his home at 172 and Hoyne Aven

41-24567

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

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

NB the Air Force Combat Chronology wrongly states that this mission took place on 19 December 1942.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on 91BG, 303BG, 305BG, 306BG Romilly 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 44BG Romilly per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Nov-2014. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop and "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" 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'.

VIII Bomber Command 26: Gallery (1 items)