VIII Bomber Command 54

4 May 1943
media-17250.png 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 prior to take-off on a mission over Antwerp, Belgium on 4 May 1943."

Photo research

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.

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

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14054504 / O-442691
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16035360 / O-661957
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • 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
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17020318 / O-661865
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12036382
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Yankee Doodle Dandy
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Scarlet Harlot aka Vat 69 aka Vicious Virgin
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Avenger
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stric Nine, City of Albuquerque
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Hunting Club
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Dec-2014. Description and note 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'.

VIII Bomber Command 54: Gallery (3 items)