VIII Bomber Command 82

15 August 1943
media-32290.png UPL 32290 James R. Regan, Sr. pilot. a lieutenant at the time, is second person kneeling from the left.

Received this photograph and mission information as a part of the package that was sent to me (his son) by the United States Air Force.

James R. Regan, Jr.

Object Number - UPL 32290 - James R. Regan, Sr. pilot. a lieutenant at the time, is second person kneeling from the left.

Description

German airfields in Holland and France are the targets for this mission. All of the attacks were made late in the afternoon just prior to sunset. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (20); 351BG (19); 381BG (23); 92BG (18); 305BG (19); 306BG (20); 303BG (20); 379BG (21); and 384BG (20) are despatched to the German airfields at Vlissingen, Holland; Amiens, France; and Poix, France. 91 aircraft are effective on Vlissingen (cited as a secondary target in Freeman): 91BG (19); 92BG (18); 305BG (16); 306BG (20); 351BG (18). There are no losses or claims in this formation, although 34 are damaged and 3 airmen are wounded. 381BG was not able to bomb (reason not yet determined). 56 aircraft are effective on Amiens; and 14 other dropped on Poix. There are no losses or claims in these two formations, although 14 aircraft were damaged. The Mission Report of the 303BG which attacked Amiens stated that there was no fighter opposition and "It was a milk run you dream about" That report also mentions that there was RAF Spitfire support for this mission. 

The second element was a formation of 147 B-17s from: 94BG (21); 385BG (21); 390BG (21); 95BG (21); 96BG (21); 100BG (21); 388BG (21) are dispatched to bomb the German airfields at Merville, Lille/Vendville and Vitre en Artois, France. 82 of these aircraft drop half their load on Merville and half hit Lille/Vendeville. 61 aircraft are effective on Vitre en Atrois. Two B-17s Failed to Return (FTR) one from 385BG and one from 390BG (First MIA for this Group)-17KIA, 1POW, 4EVD 3WIA. Fighter opposition is light. The bomber gunners claim 9-0-1 of the attacking German fighters.

Mission Details

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: None of the despatch of 381st Bomb Group were able to bomb. 14 of the 56 effective hit Poix.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 69.03
  • Aircraft sent: 84
  • Aircraft effective: 56
  • Aircraft damaged: 14

/ /

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 82 aircraft dropped half their load on Merville and half on Lille/Vendeville.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 168.30
  • People killed in action: 16
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People evaded: 4
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 9
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 147
  • Aircraft effective: 143
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 11

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 215.10
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 96
  • Aircraft effective: 91
  • Aircraft damaged: 34

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Major John C. Egan, of the 100th Bomb Group, wearing a fez on his return from the Regensburg Shuttle mission. Associated News Story: '"Arabian Knights Return": Men Who Made Shuttle-Bombing Raid On Regensburg. Wearing red fezes and carrying Arabian knives, the first contingent of airmen who participated in the shuttle-bombing raid on Regensburg returned from their temporary North African bases yesterday, August 22 - five days after the heavy attack on the Nazis' largest aircraft Messerschmidt factory. No b
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-399510
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19039826
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18070856 / O-733295
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in a single row in front of a military airplane.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33192689
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12053426 / O-735310
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Linda Ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Argonaut III
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Kentucky Babe aka Ain’t it Gruesome
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Venus
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributorwilliam henry
Changes
Sources

Correct typos

Date
ContributorRainer
Changes
Sources

Updated aircraft connections and corrected typo in narrative

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Merville Lille/Vendeville statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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 82: Gallery (5 items)