VIII Bomber Command 71
4 July 1943
This aircraft was originally assigned to the 326th BS, 92nd BG and named "Ruthie". She was badly shot up by fighters on the July 4,1943 mission to Nantes but managed to make it back to Alconbury. After being repaired she was transferred to the 305th BG and renamed "Hell Cat". Ran out of fuel and crash landed at Hawkinge, England on September 15,1943. Scrapped two days later.
Photo taken at: RAF Chelveston (AAF-105), England,
Object Number - UPL 19152 - "Hell Cat" Lockheed/Vega B-17F-35-VE Flying Fortress s/n 42-5910, of 365th BS, 305th BG, 8th AF. This aircraft was originally assigned to the 326th...
Description
The aircraft factories at Le Mans and Nantes, France and the lock gates and harbour facilities at La Pallice, France are the primary targets for this mission. The mission is comprised of three elements:
1st Element: 121 B-17s are despatched to Le Mans, France: 91BG (19); 303BG (24); 351BG (18); 379BG (20); 381BG (21) and 384BG (19). The 92BG compliment includes 2 YB-40 gunships. 103 of this formation are effective on the aircraft factories and 2 bomb the marshalling yards. Enemy fighter oppositions is strong and 4 B-17s are MIA but the bomber gunners claim 24-5-15 of the attacking fighters;
2nd Element: 71 B-17s are despatched to Nantes, France: 92BG (19); 305BG (25); and 306BG (27). 61 of this formation are effective on the target. Enemy fighter opposition is strong and 3 B-17s are MIA but the bomber gunners claim 28-9-7 of the attacking fighters;
3rd Element: 83 B-17s are despatched to La Pallice, France: 94BG (18); 95BG (23); 96BG (16); 100BG (26). Fighter and flak opposition are light with only 1 B-17 MIA and 1 damaged. The bomber gunners claim 0-1-0 on enemy fighters.
Mission Details
LA PALLICE (Primary)
Description: PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 137.50
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 9
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 83
- Aircraft effective: 71
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 1
LE MANS (Primary)
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 92nd Bomb Group's despatch included 3 YB-40s. Fighters were planned to cover the withdrawal from the target but were recalled due to weather.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 254.50
- People killed in action: 31
- People wounded in action: 9
- People evaded: 15
- Prisoners of war: 25
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 24
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 15
- Aircraft sent: 119
- Aircraft effective: 103
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 29
LE MANS (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Two B-17s from 303rd Bomb Group drop their bomb loads on the marshalling yards at Le Mans.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 5.00
- Aircraft sent: 2
- Aircraft effective: 2
NANTES (Primary)
Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORY
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 145.00
- People killed in action: 16
- People wounded in action: 4
- People evaded: 2
- Prisoners of war: 16
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 28
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 9
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 7
- Aircraft sent: 71
- Aircraft effective: 61
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 34
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: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32226989
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18108164
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35661197
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36324682
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sunrise Serenader
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Jimmie, Memphis Blues
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Personnel losses and bomber gunner claims to Nantes statistics per "the Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Le Mans statistics.
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to La Palice statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Edited Title and added Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.
