VIII Bomber Command 94 OPERATION STARKEY

9 September 1943
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane.  Four men standing to the rear and six men kneeling in front. UPL 65989 UPL 65989 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 28 July 1943/Kassel.
BACK L-R: Robert Kilmer (CP), John Barkley (N), Donald Ogilvie (P), William Wilson (B).
FRONT L-R: Francis Sylvia (FG), Emmett Hood (TT), Louis Ratkiewicz (TG), William Martin (FG), James Murray (RO), James McKeon (BT)
On

Object Number - UPL 65989 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 28 July 1943/Kassel. BACK L-R: Robert Kilmer (CP), John Barkley (N), Donald Ogilvie (P), William Wilson (B). FRONT...

Description

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

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: 392nd Bomb Group first mission. Operation "STARKEY".

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 63.00
  • Aircraft sent: 40
  • Aircraft effective: 35

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

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

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 84.20
  • Aircraft sent: 63
  • Aircraft effective: 59
  • Aircraft damaged: 6

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 53.45
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 37
  • Aircraft effective: 37
  • Aircraft damaged: 10

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 74.52
  • Aircraft sent: 56
  • Aircraft effective: 52
  • Aircraft damaged: 7

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.

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

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Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 65.40
  • People wounded in action: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 38
  • Aircraft effective: 28
  • Aircraft damaged: 3

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Operation "STARKEY".

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: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18057056 / O-724591
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Portrait of Gale Cleven, 100th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-399782
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-741968
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot ; Pilot
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5906) nicknamed "Sandra Kay". Printed caption on reverse: '61482 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sandra Kay". England, 11 August 1943. Front row, left to right: T/Sgt Herman J Ball, Milwaukee, Wisc; S/Sgt George R Martin, New Albany, Ind; S/Sgt Joshua M Lewis, Cumberland, Md; S/Sgt Otto V Kloza, Milwaukee, Wisc; T/Sgt Paul D Gomis, Reading, Penn; S/Sgt Fran
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-794117
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Major Harry Crosby, 100th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-731272
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • 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: Meat ball / major ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th 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
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Linda Ball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributorwilliam henry
Changes
Sources

Correct typos

Date
ContributorMags
Changes
Sources

303rd BG Web Page

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Paris statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Beaumont statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-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 94 OPERATION STARKEY: Gallery (2 items)