VIII Bomber Command 43
13 March 1943
(Personnel noted Back Row Left - Right; Front Row L-R)
Ds 6/30/2018
Object Number - UPL 23266 - Lt. Frank Robert Spitznagel and crew. 364th Squadron, 305th BG. Assembled June 18, 1943 in front of their B-17 #42-29633, nicknamed...
Description
The railroad marshalling yards at Amiens/Longeau, France are the primary target for this mission but the rail line at Romescamps, the German airfield at Abbevile/Drucat and two other targets of opportunity are also bombed. 80 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (21); 303BG; (20); 305BG (19) and 306BG (20). 12 aircraft from 91BG and 19 aircraft from 306BG attack the following targets of opportunity: 21 bomb the rail line at Romescamps, France; 8 bomb the German airfield at Abbevile//Drucat; and 2 bomb other targets of opportunity. In all, 75 of the 80 B-17's despatched are effective on their targets. No aircraft are lost but 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 2-0-2 on enemy aircraft.
The main B-17 force is supported by a diversion flown by a combination of 16 B-24's from 44BG and 93BG (exact distribution not determined. There are no losses or claims.
The B-17 force was to be escorted by 27 Spitfires from 4th Fighter Group but these failed to rendevous with the bombers and they returned to Debden. No losses or claims.
Mission Details
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Diversion for raid on Amiens.
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 16
ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT / ROMESCAMPS
Description: TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Notes: 12 B-17s of 91st Bomb Group and 19 B-17s of 306th Bomb Group attack targets of opportunity. 21 bombed a railroad at Romescamps, 8 hit Abbeville/Drucat airfield, and two hit other targets.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 92.00
- Aircraft sent: 31
- Aircraft effective: 31
AMIENS/LONGEAU (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This mission was supposed to be escorted by Spitfires from 4th Fighter Group, but they failed to rendezvous with the bomber formation.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 131.50
- People wounded in action: 6
- Aircraft sent: 49
- Aircraft effective: 44
- Aircraft damaged: 11
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 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13049248
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-437927
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34211267
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14064909
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer
Aircraft
![Captain Albert W. Dieffenback, a bombardier of the 303rd Bomb Group, admires Bugs Bunny painted onto the nose of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 9 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '14. Captain Albert W. Dieffenbach, of Garrett Park, Md., and the bomber in which he flies as group bombardier.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407609.jpg.webp?itok=_FHnam-K)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: S For Sugar
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The 8 Ball MK II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shooting Star
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Two Beauts
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
![Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group work on a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5081) nicknamed "Luscious Lady". Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photographs.' [stamp], 'Keystone Press.' [stamp] and 'Sacred.' [stamp] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378959.jpg.webp?itok=aoTNMECP)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Luscious Lady
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 27-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'.