VIII Bomber Command 55

13 May 1943
media-51844.jpeg UPL 51844 Avions Potez Aircraft Repair Depot, Meaulte, France, 13 May 1943

Object Number - UPL 51844 - Avions Potez Aircraft Repair Depot, Meaulte, France, 13 May 1943

Description

The large fighter sweeps of the last several weeks have not been successful in drawing any significant numbers of German fighters in opposition. So, if the German will not send his fighters up for a one-on-one confrontation with the American P-47s, then the strategy is to send the heavy bombers against his aircraft industry, to draw him up, and also target his airfield facilities to either catch his fighters on the ground or deny them them a base of operations. With this thinking in mind, VIII Bomber Command designates three primary target for this mission: the Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meault, France, and two German airfields at St. Omer, France (Longuenesse and Ft. Rouge) which are most likely to scramble fighters against the bombing mission to Meault. 

A force of 97 B-17s is dispatched by 1st Bomb Wing for the attack on Meault, France: 91BG (25); 303BG (21); 305BG (27) and 306BG (24). 88 of the 97 dispatched are effective on the target. The formation is supported by 124 P-47s from 4FG, 56FG and 78FG but not as a true escort but only along the approach and withdrawal routes. The fighter opposition is moderate. 3 B-17s are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 11-3-1 against the attacking fighters. 

In the proceeding month of April 1943 the heavy bomber contingent of 8th Air Force has doubled with the addition of 4 more heavy bomb groups the 94BG, 95BG, 96BG and 351BG. This is the first mission for the lot. These constitute 4th Provisional Wing. 58 B-17s are dispatched to attack the Longuenesse German airfield at St. Omer, France: 94BG (19); 95BG (19) and 96BG (20). In addition, 14 B-17s are dispatched from 351BG to attack the Ft. Rouge German airfield at St. Omer, France. While there are two targets at St. Omer, the formation begins the journey from Great Britain to the target more or less as a single formation with 94BG and 95BG in the lead and 96BG and 351BG following. In mid-channel the lead aircraft had a mechanical malfunction and had to abort. As a result 96BG and 351BG became disorganized and returned to base. Thus, of the 14 B-17s dispatched by 351BG to bomb Ft. Rouge airfield, none are effective; and of the 20 dispatched by 96BG to bomb the Longuenesse airfield, none are effective. However, 31 of the 38 dispatched by 94BG and 95BG against Longuenesse are effective. There is only one aircraft from 96BG lost, and that was due to damage caused by an machine gun accident aboard the aircraft shortly after take-off. The aircraft turned back and was ditched into The Wash. All of the crew baled out safely, but the pilot died of hypothermia in the water before he could be rescued.

Mission Details

Description: AVIONS POTEZ AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 218.25
  • People killed in action: 20
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 12
  • Aircraft sent: 97
  • Aircraft effective: 88
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 11

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The 351st flies its first mission, but the formation is straggling so bad due to a misunderstanding among the formation leaders that the mission is abandoned at mid-Channel. 96th Bomb Group also affected.

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 14

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group fly their first mission. Of the 20 aircraft despatched by 96th Bomb Group, none manage to drop on the target. Because they did not drop, their first mission in regarded as being flown on 14-May-43, same with 351st Bomb Group.

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 73.35
  • People killed in action: 1
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • People returned to duty: 9
  • Aircraft sent: 58
  • Aircraft effective: 31
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18124489
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14049756 / O-437941
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36324682
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728815
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Devil Himself
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Vulgar Virgin
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ramblin Wreck
  • Unit: Headquarters Squadron (VIII Air Force Service Command) 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "MISSION NARRATIVE" - "withdrawal" was misspelled.

Date
ContributorBobPitts
Changes
Date
Contributorjgorse
Changes
Sources

John G Gorse, Lt Col, Nephew
C-130 Command Pilot

Date
Contributorjgorse
Changes
Sources

John G Gorse, Lt Col, Nephew
C-130 Command Pilot

Date
Contributorjgorse
Changes
Sources

John G Gorse, Lt Col, Nephew
C-130 Command Pilot

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Jan-15. 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'.

VIII Bomber Command 55: Gallery (4 items)