Description

The German air depot at Villacoublay, France and the German airfields Amiens/Glisy and Le Bourget at Paris, France are the primary targets for this mission. These attacks are made by three separate elements: 116 B-17s are despatched from 92BG (15); 303BG (19); 305BG (20); 306BG (24); 379BG (20); and 384BG (18). 101 aircraft of this element are effective on the target. 1 B-17 from 303BG was ditched 30 miles off Shoreham and the entire crew was rescued by ASR; 1 B-17 from 305BG was shot down by enemy aircraft - 7KIA 4POW; and one B-17 from 384BG was shot down by enemy aircraft - 4POW 6EVD (No MACR issued). This formation included 5 YB-40 gunships from 92BG and did not receive fighter escort. The bomber gunners of this element claim 15-7-16 of attacking enemy aircraft.

The second element was a combined force of 64 B-17s from 91BG (20); 351BG (20); and 381BG (24) despatched to bomb the German airfield Amiens/Glisy. 53 of these aircraft were effective on the target. 1 B-17 from 381BG exploded during assembly - 6KIA 4RTD; 3 other B-17s were Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) but all the crews were RTD. The bomber gunners of this element claim 9-0-2 of attacking enemy aircraft. German fighters conducted mainly head-on attacks on the bomber stream. This element received fighter escort.

The third element was a combined force of 84 B-17s from 94BG (19); 95BG (22); 96BG (21); and 100BG (22) despatched to bomb the airfield of Le Bourget at Paris, France. 52 aircraft of this element were effective on the target. 94BG sustains the significant loss of 4 B-17s - 11KIA 14POW 16EVD. The bomber gunners have a field day against the Luftwaffe, claiming 41-27-32 of the attacking enemy aircraft. This element did not have fighter escort.