VIII Bomber Command 54

4 May 1943

Object Number - UPL 17250 - Official USAAF photo caption : "A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" (A/C No. 33057) of the 91st Bomb Group heads for the runway at Bassingbourne, England...

Description

The Ford and General Motors vehicle plants at Antwerp, Belgium are the primary target for this mission. 79-B-17 are despatched 91BG (25); 303BG (27) and 305BG (27). 65 0f the 79 despatched are effective on the target. There is moderate flak and fighter opposition. No aircraft in this formation are lost, 16 are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 10-0-2 on enemy aircraft.

NOTE: The lead aircraft from 303BG is B-17F 41-24635 "Eight Ball II", aboard as observers are Hollywood actor Capt Clark Cable and a cameraman. Capt Cable is serving with the 351st Bomb Group which is still in the process of becoming operational. He has been assigned, along with a team of six former motion picture employees, to make a film to be used in the training of 8th Air Force bomber gunners. He is anxious to get started on the project and manages to "hitch" this ride in the "Eight Ball II". During the mission, the aircraft is attacked by German fighters and Capt Gable mans the radio room gun. The aircraft is only slightly damaged.

The formation attacking at Antwerp, Belgium are supported by 20 B-17s despatched from 306BG and 13 B-24s despatched from 44BG to fly a diversion. No losses or claims.

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 20
  • Aircraft effective: 20

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 13
  • Aircraft effective: 13

ANTWERP (Primary)

Description: FORD and GM PLANTS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: No fighter escort on this mission.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 161.50
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 79
  • Aircraft effective: 65
  • Aircraft damaged: 16

Connections

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

People

William Anthony Benecki

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36324682
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Claude W Campbell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18057056 / O-724591
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

John W Carroll

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437927
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Porter Dudley Clemens

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19122414
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Hollywood actor Clark Gable in the waist gun position of a a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 91st Bomb Group. Passed for publication 6 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Clark Gable Serves In England: Clark Gable has slipped into this country as Capt. Gable and is serving with the U.S. Army Air Force somewhere in England, as a Gunnery Instructor. He hopes that his movements will not be accompanied by the publicity that he had a while ago, because he wants to get down to the job as others are doing. Keysto

William Clark Gable

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19125741 at enlistment, then O-565390
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Cameraman, Gunner, Actor

Aircraft

41-24635

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball Mk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].

42-2973

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza vailable
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th 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.

42-5081

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Luscious Lady
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-U, serial number 42-5177) nicknamed "Fast Woman (Fast Worker II)". Image via Pete Bowens.

42-5177

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: FAST WOMAN, FAST WORKER Mk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

42-5221

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shades of stricnine, son
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date31 Dec 2014 19:45:20
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Dec-2014. Added # effective to description, same source as previous.

Date31 Dec 2014 19:42:53
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Dec-2014. Description and note based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:43:17
ContributorAAM
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'.

VIII Bomber Command 54: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 17250 - Official USAAF photo caption : "A Boeing B-17...

Object number: UPL 19299 - The crew of 41-24635 on return from the 4 May 1943...

Object number: UPL 26832 - "Archbishop Francis J Spellman and 1st Lt Hunt...