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

Sergeant Charles L. Roth, a ground crewman of the 303rd Bomb Group, fixes the nose turret gun 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 ‘238765.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'HE WANTS A STEAK IN CHICAGO. 20-year-old Sgt Charles L. Roth, of 6533 Meneriva Avenue, has an army job which suits him down to the ground - or up in the air. In c

Charles L Roth

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18069118
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Ellis Jewell Sanderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-435855
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Edward J Sanski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20318233
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Frank A Saunders

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437647
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Henry G Schneiderman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16036237
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

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'.