VIII Bomber Command 68

26 June 1943
Headshot of young man with dark wavy hair wearing sports jacket and tie UPL 65169 UPL 65169 David J. Hardin, Waist Gunner, 546th Bomb Squad, 384th bomb Group. KIA 26th June 1943, 42-3188, Mission No. 68
384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron VIII Bomber Command 68 42-3188 Grafton Underwood David Jackson Hardin On

Object Number - UPL 65169 - David J. Hardin, Waist Gunner, 546th Bomb Squad, 384th bomb Group. KIA 26th June 1943, 42-3188, Mission No. 68

Description

The targets for today are all Luftwaffe installations: the Villacoublay air depot SW of Paris, France is the primary; the airfield at Poissy, France is attacked as the secondary because of cloud cover; the airfield at Tricqueville, France; and the airfield at Le Mans, France. A force of 123 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG (14); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 351BG (21); 379BG (13); 381BG (19); and 384BG (18) to attack Villacoublay air depot. 5 of the 18 aircraft despatched by 92BG were YB-40 gunships. 1 of these flew with the 303BG, 1 with the 384BG and 3 with the 379th BG. Only 12 of the 124 despatched were able to bomb at Paris and 6 others bombed the secondary airfield at Poissy, France because of complete cloud cover of the air depot at Villacoublay. There is some fighter opposition and the bomber gunners claim 13-3-10 of the enemy aircraft. 

A second formation of 42 B-17s is depatched from: 305BG (21) and 306BG (21) to bomb the airfield at Tricqueville, France. This target is clear and 39 of the 42 B-17s despatched are effective on the target. The bomber gunners claim 4-2-0 of the enemy aircraft. 

A third formation of 81 B-17s is despatched from: 94BG (19); 95BG (18); 96BG (21); and 100BG (23) to bomb the airfield at Le Mans, France, but cloud cover prevents bombing and the formation turns back before reaching the target. There are no losses or claims. 

 

Mission Details

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: All return to base without bombing.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • Aircraft sent: 81

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 12.25
  • Aircraft sent: 6
  • Aircraft effective: 6

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 90.15
  • Aircraft sent: 42
  • Aircraft effective: 39

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 91st Bomb Group despatched 19, 5 of which were 5YB-40 assigned to escort the bombers but none of the aircraft make it to the target. Only 6 aircraft from 92nd Bomb Group and 12 from 379th Bomb Group are effective. Fighters are despatched as escort for all elements. All 5 Missing in Action (MIA) aircraft are from 384th Bomb Group

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 28.00
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People evaded: 7
  • Prisoners of war: 38
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 17
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 117
  • Aircraft effective: 12
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged: 14

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14066572 at enlistment, then O-729733
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane.  Six men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front.  Some of the men are  wearing  cold weather flying gear.  There are large canvas bags on the ground in front of the men.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665291
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-60135
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Headshot of man in WWII era Air Force uniform
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-796529
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nymokymi
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Battle Wagon
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Old Ironsides
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little America
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorMags
Changes
Sources

303rd BG Web Page

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2015. Statistics and Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2014. Correction of typo in description.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2041. 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 68: Gallery (1 items)