VIII Bomber Command 83
16 August 1943
8th Air Force
384th Bombardment Group
546th Bombardment Squadron
Original Crew
SSGT Herry Saperstein (Ball Turret)
TSGT Oscar K. Hamblin (Top Turret/Engineer)
SSGT James P. Morley (Waist Gunner)
2LT Richard J. Peirce (Navigator)
2LT Warren B. Holland (Co-Pilot)
2LT Jacques E. Riddel (Pilot)
2LT Harry A. Hawes (Bombardier)
TSGT Charles L. Kirby, Jr. (Radio Operator)
SSGT Edward F. Ruch (Waist Gunner)
SSGT William H. Ross (Tail Gunner)
Riddel was killed on 28 July 1943, flying as co-pilot on Sky Queen (42-30032).
He was replaced by 1LT Russel R. Faulkiner.
Updated bio with info from http://hangarthirteen.org/
Object Number - UPL 38132 - Douglas B-17F-65-DL Fortress Ser.# 42-3455 “Lucky 13” 8th Air Force 384th Bombardment Group 546th Bombardment Squadron Original Crew SSGT...
Description
This mission consists of two elements of B-17s despatched to bomb the German airfields of Le Bourget (Paris), Poix and Abbeville, France. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (21); 92BG (17); 303BG (20); 305BG (20); 306BG (20); 351BG (21); 379BG (21); 381BG (20); and 384BG (20) are despatched to bomb at Paris/Le Bourget. 171 B-17s are effective on the target and the formations had fighter escort by P-47s to and from the target. 4 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR), and 46 are damaged. Casualties are: 6KIA 17POW 6WIA 8EVD. The bomber gunners claim 29-3-11 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element is a combined formation of 66 B-17s from: 94BG (21); 96BG (24) and 388BG (21) despatched to bomb tw German airfields: one a Poix, France and the other at Abbeville, France. All 66 aircraft are effective but divide their bombs between Poix (65) and Abbeville (64). There are no losses or claims in this formation, although 36 aircraft sustain damage.
Mission Details
PARIS/LE BOURGET (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 92nd Bomb Group despatch includes1 YB-40 gunship. This is the last use of the YB-40.
- 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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 397.35
- People killed in action: 6
- People wounded in action: 6
- People evaded: 8
- Prisoners of war: 17
- People returned to duty: 10
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 29
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 11
- Aircraft sent: 179
- Aircraft effective: 171
- Aircraft missing in action: 4
- Aircraft damaged: 46
POIX / ABBEVILLE
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: These aircraft dropped half their load on Poix Air Field and the other half on Abbeville Ai Field
- 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: 8.95
- Aircraft sent: 66
- Aircraft effective: 66
- Aircraft damaged: 38
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: 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 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665266
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793276
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16066310 / O-735023
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Check
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th 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: Stella
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Winsome Winn II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Dallas Rebel
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Updated connections
Lee Cunningham 17-May-2015. Added WIA count to Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman (cites 4WIA); and the 303BG Mission Report (cites 2 WIA) http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/059.pdf
Lee Cunningham 17-May-2015. Corrected EVD statistic and added bomber gunner claims to Le Bouget element statisitics per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Roger A, Freeman. Corrected WIA statistic per 303BG Mission Report: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/059.pdf
Lee Cunningham 17-May-2015. Added the Mission Narrative 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'.
