VIII Bomber Command 27

30 December 1942

Official Description

40 HBs hit submarine base at Lorient, which now shows cumulative effect of repeated bombardment.

Description

The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is effective on the target, most returned to base before the mission start. 3 aircraft are MIA and 22 are damaged.

Mission Details

LORIENT/ KEROMAN (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Only one aircraft from 306th Bomb Group reached the target, the other 17 returned to base before the mission start point. No fighter escort on this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 79.60
  • People killed in action: 32
  • People wounded in action: 7
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 29
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 7
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 77
  • Aircraft effective: 40
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 22

Connections

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

People

Edward W Durant

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37011803
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Eugene B Ellis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437909
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arden G Gearhart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36158156
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

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
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

B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (VK-H, serial number 41-24606) nicknamed "Werewolf", of the 303rd Bomb Group. On reverse: US Army Examiner [Stamp].

41-24606

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Werewolf
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

41-24608

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Yehudi
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Vernon E. Carlson, of the 303rd Bomb Group, paints the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Holy Mackeral". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: '"Everything under control" is the optimistic message sent by Sgt. Vernon E. Carlson of the Air Corps, whose home is at 1431 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago. He used to be with the Goetz Elevator Co. He is 29 and unmarried. O.P.S. shows him painting "Holy Mackerel" on a plane.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press C

41-24609

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Fort W. Lipe of the 303rd Bomb Group, signals 'V for Victory' from the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610 ) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Fort W. Lipe, of the Air Corps, of Irving, Illinois was with the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. He is 23 and is engaged to Miss Edith Kesinger, of 314 North-St., Normal, Illinois. His greeting is silent, optimistic and emphatic. As O.P.S. he sends it in the V sign.' On

41-24610

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Joe Btfsplk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

41-24620

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Snap! Crackle! Pop!
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th 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 per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Dec-2014. Added Mission description based on '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'.