VIII Bomber Command 47

28 March 1943

Description

The railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville are the primary target. 79 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (22); 303BG (18); 305BG (19); 306BG (20). Of the 79 B-17's despatched 70 are effecrive on the target. One B-17 is MIA and 9 are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 5-4-1 on German aircraft. There is no fighter escort. 

The B-17 formation is to be joined by 24 B-24's: 44BG (11) and 93BG (13). However, this formation is recalled due to weather.

Mission Details

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: B-17 Groups able to bomb before weather closes in target. Greatest tonnage delivered to a single target to date.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 209.00
  • People killed in action: 10
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 79
  • Aircraft effective: 70
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: The B-24s are recalled due to weather. No fighter escort.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 24

Connections

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

People

First Lieutenant Charles R. Patten, of the 303rd Bomb Group, inside a Jeep. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238776.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Former salesman at the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co., First Lt Charles R Patten, of the U.S. Air Corps, is preparing to hand out something stronger than paper to the Nazis. Patten, whose home is at 531 Melrose-street, Chicage, is married and has one ch

Charles R Patten

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-349164
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Adjutant

Robert Plummer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20732352
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Arthur Leroy Poston

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14020972
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Robert Hamilton Sangster

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14045294
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Dec-2014. 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'.