VIII Bomber Command 29

13 January 1943

Description

The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG (17) of these 64 are effective on the target, 3 are MIA and 15 are damaged. The attacking element is provided a fighter escort, the first time that fighters have been specifically despatched by 8AF to support an 8AF heavy bombing mission.



The attacking formation is supported with a diversion flown by 16 B-24s despatched by 44th Bomb Group.

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Diversion for raid on Lille, France.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 16

LILLE (Primary)

Description: ATCLIER D'HELLEMMES RR WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 306th Bomb Group/369BS B-17 (serial number 41-24471, "Four of a Kind") collides with 306th Bomb Group/ 369BS B-17 serial number 41-24498 on the way out from the target.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 160.60
  • People killed in action: 24
  • People wounded in action: 9
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 15
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 3
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 4
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 5
  • Aircraft sent: 72
  • Aircraft effective: 64
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 15

Connections

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

People

Doyle L Dugger

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437912
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Pilot
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
Gordon Grant

Gordon Richard Grant

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726153
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Arthur P Halbrooks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726158
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Duke L Hamilton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6274614
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret 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

41-24587

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Check
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

41-24601

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th 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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A Freeman and "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'.