VIII Bomber Command 36
16 February 1943![B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group fly over countryside. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Feb 1943.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: '7-12 Liberator planes of U.S. Bomber Command in flight at the start of an operational patrol from their base "somewhere in England". And February 17th 1943 PN'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-379113.jpg.webp?itok=3tYzbHdS)
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 677 - B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group fly over countryside. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Feb 1943.'...
Description
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost. 91st BG reports that two of its B-17s are attacked by FW190s dropping what appear to be cluster bomb munitions just aft of the B-17s.
B-24s are from 44BG (12) and 93BG (6). Only 6 of the 12 despatched by 44BG are effective on the target and 2 are lost in a mid-air collision over the English Channel. None of the B-24s despatched by 93BG are aeffective on the target.
Mission Details
SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: No fighter escort on this mission for any of the elements. One B-17 from 91st Bomb Group crashed on take-off - Crew OK, but bomber DBR. Luftwaffe uses time-fused fragmentation bombs dropped in clusters from FW-190 fighters.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 143.50
- People killed in action: 33
- People wounded in action: 7
- People evaded: 7
- Prisoners of war: 23
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 16
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 10
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 71
- Aircraft effective: 59
- Aircraft missing in action: 6
- Aircraft damaged: 28
SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 2 B-24s from 44th Bomb Group sustain a mid-air collision over the English Channel near Selsey, England. None of the 6 B-24s of 93rd Bomb Group are effective at the target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 16.50
- People killed in action: 20
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 4
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 18
- Aircraft effective: 6
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged: 2
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18084492
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39083381
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19065013
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 44th Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 66th Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14046874
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hun Hunter
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fast Woman : Fast Worker MK II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yardbird II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to B-24 St. Nazaire event per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to B017 St. Nazaire event per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 23-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.