VIII Bomber Command 88

31 August 1943
media-18990.png UPL 18990 "Augerhead" nose art - B-17 Serial #42-29635

USAAF official photos

Object Number - UPL 18990 - "Augerhead" nose art - B-17 Serial #42-29635

Description

This mission is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 170 B-17s from: 91BG (16); 92BG (19); 303BG (20); 305BG (18); 306BG (18); 351BG (21); 379BG (21); 381BG (19); and 384BG (18). The primary target for this element is German airfield at Romilly-sur-Seine, France, but the target is obscured by clouds preventing 306BG and 384BG from bombing. The Commanding Officer of this 1st Bomb Wing element orders the formations to attack the German airfield at Amiens/Glisy instead making use of VHF radio communications to coordinate the attack. This is the first use of VHF in this manner. 105 aircraft hit the Amiens/Glisy airfield. 3 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR) 20KIA 6POW 3EVD 1RTD (rescued by ACR). 2 of the FTRs were involved in a mid-air collision and ended up crashing into the English Channel on the way to the target. 5 other airmen were KIA in aircraft that returned to base along with 8WIA. 1 aircraft was damaged bu debris from the 2 B-17s that collided but managed to make it back to England but crashlanded at Polebook. 8KOM 2RTD 1 RAF Observer also killed. The bomber gunners claim 5-1-3 of attacking German fighters. 

The second element was a combined group of 149 B-17s from: 94BG (21); 95BG (22); 96BG (21); 100BG (19); 385BG (21); 388BG (22); and 390BG (23) despatched to bomb the Meulan aircraft factory at Rouen, France. The target was obscured by clouds and only 1 aircraft managed to bomb a target of opportunity - the railway NE of Rouen. There are no losses or claims but 19 aircraft are damaged.

Mission Details

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 306th Bomb Group and 384th Bomb Group despatch does not effectively hit the target. The 306th Bomb Group/367th Bomb Squadron has incurred the heaviest losses of any Bomb Squadron in 8th Air Force between October 1942 and the end of August 1943. First use of VHF radio communications to coordinate an attack improvised by the Commanding Officer of 8th Air Force/1st Bomb Wing when the primary target at Rommilly-sur-Seine airfield was obscured by clouds. Previous to this the 8th Air Force had maintained radio silence (as per RAF) procedures.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 310.00
  • People killed in action: 33
  • People wounded in action: 8
  • People evaded: 3
  • Prisoners of war: 6
  • People returned to duty: 3
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 170
  • Aircraft effective: 105
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 35

Description: AIRCRAFT FACTORY

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Target obscured. One B-17 hits Rouen rail junction instead.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3.00
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 149
  • Aircraft effective: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 19

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32424605
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Darrell C. Debolt, bombardier in the 8th Air Force 381st Bombardment Group (H) 1943-1944
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-734654
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-729958
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
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

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Dallas Rebel
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Eager Beaver
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Argonaut : Vox Pop II
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Short Stride : Loma Lee : TS
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Hollywood actor Captain Clark Gable and his crew of the 511st Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-Y, serial number 42-29835) nicknamed "Pistol Ball" at Bodney. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Clark Gable - Bodney - DS-Y 'Pistol Ball'.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pistol Ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 511th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorThomBear
Changes
Sources

Added a/c 41-24560 per post-mission report.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims on enemy aircraft to Amiens/Glisy statistics per "The Mighty Eight War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28--May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman; "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

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 88: Gallery (3 items)