VIII Bomber Command 94 OPERATION STARKEY
9 September 1943Description
This mission has been named OPERATION STARKEY. It is planned as a coordinated attack of multiple bomber elements upon multiple targets and incorporates fighter escort as a rehearsal of what may be required to support an invasion of the Continent. It is the largest operation of the war to date with 330 bombers and 215 fighters participating. It is composed of 7 bomber elements. It is hoped that smaller formations of bombers directed to multiple targets will frustrate the Luftwaffe defenses and reduce bomber losses.
The first element is a combined force of 87 B-17s from: 95BG (23); 96BG (20); 388BG (21); and 390BG (23) dispatched to bomb the industrial areas of Paris, France. Cloud cover frustrates bombing efforts at Paris and some formations attack the secondary target of the German airfield at Beaumont-sur-Oise, France. 20 aircraft are effective on the targets at Paris and 48 bomb the airfield at Beaumont. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) at Paris - 2KIA 8POW and 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) at Beaumont - 6POW 5EVD. These 2 bomber losses are the ONLY sustained by the 330 bombers dispatched. 21 aircraft are damaged and 3 airmen are Wounded in Action. The bomber gunners in this element claim 16-2-9 of attacking German aircraft. This element is the only one that draws up any significant Luftwaffe defense. This element has some fighter escort but it is limited by the range of the P-47s.
The second element is a formation of 63 B-17s from: 94BG (21); 100BG (21); and 385BG (21) dispatched to bomb the German airfield at Beauvais/Tille, France. 59 aircraft are effective on this target. There are no losses or claims, but 6 aircraft are damaged.
The third element is a formation of 37 B-17s from: 351BG (19) and 381BG (18) dispatched to bomb the German airfield at Lille/Nord, France. All 37 are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims, but 10 aircraft are damaged and 2 airmen are wounded.
The fourth element is a formation of 56 B-17s from: 92BG (19); 305BG (19); and 306BG (18) dispatched to bomb the German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France. 52 aircraft are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims, but 7 aircraft are damaged.
The fifth element is a formation of 56 B-17s from: 303BG (18); 379BG (20); and 384BG (18) dispatched to bomb the German airfield at Vitre-en-Artois, France. 51 aircraft are effective on the target. There are no losses or claims.
The sixth element is a formation of 38 B-24s from: 93BG (20) and 389BG (18) dispatched to bomb the two German airfields as St. Omer, France: Ft. Rouge and Longuenesse. 28 aircraft are effective on the targets. There are no losses or claims, but 3 aircraft are damaged and one airmen is Wounded in Action (WIA).
The seventh element is a formation of 40 B-24s from: 44BG (19) and 392BG (21) dispatched to bomb the German airfield of Abbeville/Drucat, France. This is the first combat mission for the 392BG. 35 aircraft are effective on the target. This is the only element that does not get fighter escort, but there are no losses or claims.
The mission is declared a large success even though the Luftwaffe does not commit any significant numbers of fighters against the various elements.
Mission Details
ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 392nd Bomb Group first mission. Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 63.00
- Aircraft sent: 40
- Aircraft effective: 35
BEAUMONT-SUR-OISE (Secondary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 139.25
- People killed in action: 2
- People wounded in action: 3
- People evaded: 5
- Prisoners of war: 14
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 10
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 2
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 64
- Aircraft effective: 48
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 15
BEAUVAIS/TILLE (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 84.20
- Aircraft sent: 63
- Aircraft effective: 59
- Aircraft damaged: 6
LILLE/NORD (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 53.45
- People wounded in action: 2
- Aircraft sent: 37
- Aircraft effective: 37
- Aircraft damaged: 10
LILLE/VENDEVILLE (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 74.52
- Aircraft sent: 56
- Aircraft effective: 52
- Aircraft damaged: 7
PARIS (Primary)
Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Operation "STARKEY", D-Day Rehearsal. 330 B-17s participate. Largest raid to date. Luftwaffe fails to commit any large force.

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 58.00
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 6
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
- Aircraft sent: 23
- Aircraft effective: 20
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 6
SAINT OMER/ FORT ROUGE / SAINT OMER/ LONGEUNESSE (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 65.40
- People wounded in action: 1
- Aircraft sent: 38
- Aircraft effective: 28
- Aircraft damaged: 3
VITRY-EN-ARTOIS (Primary)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

- 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: 75.18
- Aircraft sent: 56
- Aircraft effective: 51
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: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39398025
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 1st Scouting Force 385th Fighter Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728536
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- 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: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793713
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-669955
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Damn Yankee
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron

- 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: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Meat hound
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 306th Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 423rd Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stella
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Paris statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman
Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Beaumont statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added 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'.