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

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

Cecil J Floyd

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
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

Charles R Grice

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728203
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Staff Sergeant Edward Z. Harmonof the 303rd Bomb Group checks the gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24619). Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'S/Sgt. Edward Z. Harmon, gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, examines the sights of his gun before another raid. He has already been on 14, and holds the Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. He comes from Tule Lake, Cal., and is 33 years old. He formerly worked as a tunneller. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. Harmon,

Edward Z Harmon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39091359
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

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

41-24602

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

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)