2nd Bomb Division
Division
The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.
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395
6 June 1944
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Certificate showing the 33 Missions completed by Capt. William M. Bryan Jr of the 93rd Bomb Group
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The Military Service Record for Philip G. Rodgers Showing His Completion Of 30 Missions As Well As The Awards He Received
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8th Air Force mission 395; June 6, 1944; communications center behind German beach defenses. 447th Bomb Group strike photo. This was the second mission of D Day.
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401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 84, 6 Jun 1944, Ver-Sur-Mere
Official description
Eighth reaches its top strength as 493d Bomb Group (H) becomes operational, making a total of 40 Heavy Bomber Groups now operational. Heavy Bombers fly 4 missions in spite of the invasion of Normandy.
The third mission is dispatched against the important communications center of Caen. 56 B-24’s bomb through overcast skies.
Transportation chokepoints in towns immediately S and E of assault area are the objectives of the fourth mission for the Eighth. 553 HBs bomb targets including Vire, Saint- Lo, Coutances, Falaise, Lisieux, Thury-Harcourt, Pont-l’Eveque, Argentan, and Conde-sur-Noireau. In all, 1,729 HBs of Eighth AF drop 3,596 tons of bombs during D-Day, suffering only 3 losses (to ground fire and a collision).
Description
D-Day. Start of Operation Overlord.
Mission details
1.
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
2. ARGENTAN
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
3. CAEN (Primary)
Description
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
The 2nd Bomb Division was made up of all 2nd Bomb Division Bomb Groups.
Units
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 157 T |
4. CONDE-SUR-NOIREAU
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
5. COUTANCES
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
6. FALAISE
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
7. LISIEUX
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
8. NORMANDY BEACHEAD
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS.
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
These attacks were made in the afternoon. Transportation chokepoints South and East of the assault area are targeted.
D-Day : Everyone knew that "The Invasion" would be soon and everyone was ready to get going with it. It was one of those moments that one knew was going to be momentous even before it happen and everyone wanted to be a part of it. The 388th BG's part was chosen to lead the entire 8th Air Force that day.
Units
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1st Bomb Division
Division
The groups under the command of the 1st Bomb Wing came under the command of the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division. -
2nd Bomb Division
Division
The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division. -
3rd Bomb Division
Division
The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division. -
388th Bomb Group
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 1,490 T |
9. PONT-L'EVEQUE
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
10. SAINT LO
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
11. THURY-HARCOURT
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
12. VIRE
Description
HIGHWAY ROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
Service
People
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Marvin Abraham
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 20 x combat mission. McCord crew. Munich mission 16-Jul-44, A/C hit by flak causing a failure of the oxygen system to the nose compartment, died of anoxia along with bombardier Irwin Dobrow. Killed in Action (KIA) ... -
Joseph Acker
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Bill Trimble crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD). See the page with details about his evasion at... -
Paul Akin
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 68 -
John Allen
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 31 x missions. Ended Tour Duty (ETD). Awards: AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME. -
Robert Allison
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 94th Bomb Group
Flew 26 missions on 'Mission Bell', was wounded on 26th mission. Purple Heart, 4 Air Medals -
William Ameen
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
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Don Anderson
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier, Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
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Donald Anderson
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator; Bombardier | 401st Bomb Group
DFC/ AM w/ 5 Oak Leaf Cluster/ Unit Citation w/ Oak Leaf Cluster 1 Damaged -
Martin Anderson
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
T/Sgt Martin A. Anderson flew 34 missions, from 02/05/1944, mission #21, to 03/31/1945, mission #240. He served as a Radio Operator. He survived until the end of the war. Flew aircrafts 42-31521 'Badland Bat' DFC -
William Asbell
Military | Chief Master Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Bill Trimble crew. Awards: DFC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star). Post war: Served in Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Aircraft
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42-102393 Diana Queen Of The Chase
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Hunter 22/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-R] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; 111m, Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal... -
42-107113 'Miss Aldaflak' 'Section 8'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 24/2/44; Gr Island 7/3/44; Grenier 5/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-J] Deenethorpe 2/5/44; 612BS [SC-O]; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for... -
42-31087 'Heaven Can Wait', 'Boche Buster'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/43; Gt Falls 28/9/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-K] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; Missing in Action Politz 7/10/44 with Tom Hill, Wilbur Schmedel, Theo Block, Junius Chadwick, Jim Mullins, Vic Shewbert, Ed Hellenbeck, Buddy Keith, Omer... -
42-31591 Homesick Angel
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Wendover 9/12/43; Grenier 20/1/44; Assigned 457BG Glatton 25/1/44; transferred 613BS/401BG [IN-J] Deenethorpe 11/3/44; Missing in Action Pas de Calais 19/3/44, force landed continent; Salvaged 1 SAD Troston 22/4/44; mission... -
42-31891 The Shape
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 31/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-P] Deenethorpe 15/2/44; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 1/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA)... -
42-31939 Spook Six
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 6/1/44; Kearney 15/1/44; Romulus 23/1/44; Grenier 25/1/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Horham 2/2/44; transferred 412BS [QW-J]; 98m, with S.D. Reed, force landed RAF Coltishakk, 8RTD, 1WIA; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 21/6/44;... -
42-32005 'Command Performance II', 'Annie'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 12/1/44; Kearney 28/1/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-M] Deenethorpe 7/3/44; Missing in Action St Lo 24/7/44 with Ed Coleman, Navigator: H.E. Kron, Bombardier: E.K. Stout, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: A.T. Lindholm, Radio Operator:... -
42-38052 ‘Lucky Stehley Boy’
B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17G-25-DL ‘Flying Fortress’ 42-38052 was assigned to the USAAF on Christmas Eve 1943. The aircraft became one of the first ‘replacement’ ships to be assigned to the 447th Bombardment Group at Rattlesden, arriving in January 1944 and placed... -
42-40050 Channel Express III
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 16/11/43; Gr Island 4/12/43; Presque Is 11/12/43; Prestwick, UK 15/12/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-J] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; Missing in Action Bordeaux 19/6/44 with Bill Massey, Bombardier: Lew Stelljes, Flight engineer/top turret... -
42-97206 Woolf Pack
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 6/2/44; Gr Island 25/2/44; Presque Is 10/3/44; Assigned 452BG Deopham Green 16/3/44; damaged in taxi collision with 42-107225 at Hardwick Afd 7/6/44; Missing in Action Frankfurt 25/9/44 with Gaston Efird, Co-pilot: Bruce Merickle,...
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 January 2019 15:20:59 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to official description and media associations |
| Sources | ||
USAAF Combat Chronology. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 04 March 2015 16:51:51 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:06 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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'. |
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