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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403
10 June 1944
-
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 87, 10 Jun 1944, Gael, France/Caen, France
Official description
Not yet known
Description
Not yet known
Mission details
1. BERCK (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 51 T |
2. BOULOGNE (Primary)
Description
RAILROAD JUNCTIONS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 41 T |
3. BOULOGNE (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 92 T |
4. CHATEAUDUN (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
2nd Bomb Division was made up of 14CBW is 44th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group; 96CBW is 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group. This is the second mission of the day fro 492nd Bomb Group.
Units
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 124 T |
5. CONCHES (Secondary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 101T |
6. DREUX (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 46 T |
7. EQUIHEN (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Heavy bombers are sent on tactical missions to hit airfields and choke points. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 1CBW is 91st Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group; 41CBW is 303rd Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group 94CBW is 351st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 45CBW is 96th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group; 13CBW is 95th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group.
Units
-
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. -
3rd Bomb Division
Division
The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 48 T |
8. EVEREUX/FAUVILLE (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 165 T |
9. GAEL (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
457th BG - MISSION NO. 63 - GAEL, FRANCE
10 JUNE, 1944
After a lapse of one day, the invasion aerial offensive was renewed with the 457th providing the high box of the 94th Combat Wing assigned to bomb the Gael Airfield, located on the Brest Peninsula. Its location made it suitable for use by front line German Luftwaffe planes. The 1st Division dispatched only four Combat Wings. Major Theodore C. Hoffman was Air Commander and Lt. George C. MacDonald was pilot.
The target was covered by a seven-tenths undercast and bombing was by instruments. The bomb results were not good There was no enemy fighter opposition and only meager flak.
(Compilers Note: Practically all missions to the invasion area called for early morning takeoffs. During the summer months in this part of France, cumulus clouds build up in the day, preventing visual bombing except in the early morning hours. Even then it proved to be very difficult.)
Units
-
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. -
457th Bomb Group
Group
The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 72 T |
10. HARDELOT (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 46 T |
11. MERLIMONT PLAGE (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 75 T |
12. NATES/BOUGUENAIS (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 109 T |
13. ORLEANS/BRICY (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 182 T |
14. ST GABRIEL (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 52 T |
15. TOUCQUET-PARIS-PLAGE (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 19 T |
16. VANNES (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 117 T |
17. WIMEREAUX (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
2nd Bomb Division was made up of 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing is 389th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group; 20CBW is 93rd Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group; 95CBW is 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group; 14CBW is 492nd Bomb Group;
Units
-
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.
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 67 T |
Service
People
-
Jack Atherton
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down by flak and crashed at Gruenewald on 6/21/44 in B-17 #42-31496 Prisoner of War (POW) -
William Atkinson
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
-
Donald Awalt
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Shot down by flak and crashed at Gruenewald on 6/21/44 in B-17 42-31496. Prisoner of War (POW) -
Charles Beckham
Military | Sergeant | Ball turret gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 384th Bomb Group on 16 May 1944, completed 16 Missions with 384th Bomb Group before transferring to 305th Bomb Group on 26 June 1944. -
William Brooks
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 466th Bomb Group
St. Dizier, France 24 Mar 1944; Brunswick, Germany 8 April 1944; Hamm, Germany 22 April 1944; Leipheim, Germany 24 April 1944; Paderborn, Germany 26 April 1944; Siracourt, France 27 April 1944; Mimoyecque, France 28 April 1944; Liege, France 1 May 1944... -
Palmer Bryan
Military | 446th Bomb Group
-
Edward Bullitt
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 384th Bomb Group on 16 May 1944, completed 16 Missions with 384th Bomb Group before transferring to 305th Bomb Group on 26 June 1944. -
Burton Bush
Military | Captain | Pilot/Lead Pilot | 458th Bomb Group
-
Chester Cox
Military | Brigadier General | Group Commanding Officer | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Brigadier General -
Benjamin DeLoach
Military | First Lieutenant | B17 Bomber Pilot | 457th Bomb Group
Lt. Benjamin Hoyt DeLoach was born October 27, 1919, in Evans County, GA. to Willie F. and Elmine Callaway DeLoach. He flew 29 combat missions; 213 combat hours; in England from 10 June 1944-25 August 1944. After his tour of duty, he returned to the...
Aircraft
-
42-102398 Dynamite John
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/2/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Grenier 20/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-H] Deenethorpe 13/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in... -
42-30778 Old 66/Lady Margaret
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/7/43; Gore 6/8/43; Pendleton 12/8/43; Reno 14/8/43; Pierre 16/8/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 3/9/43; crashed on take off for France 13/8/44 with Leon Sutton, Co-pilot: Harlan Thompson, Navigator: George Healy, Bombardier:... -
42-31496 Salvo Sadie
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 12/11/43; Kearney 27/11/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-Q] Deenethorpe 1/2/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Jack Atherton, Co-pilot: Don Awalt, Navigator: Dick Fitzmaurice, Bombardier: John Whelan, Flight engineer/top turret... -
42-31863 Miss 'B' Haven
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 27/12/43; Gt Falls 29/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Presque Is 26/1/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-X] Deenethorpe 6/2/44; battle damaged ? 28/9/44 with ? ; Cologne 6/1/45; Salvaged 2 SAD Lt Staughton 19/2/45. MISS `B' HAVEN. -
42-38013 "NEVADA AVENGER"
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; New Castle 10/12/43; Presque Is 15/12/43; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-C] Grafton Underwood 21/1/44; sal battle damaged 27/4/44. NEVADA AVENGER. ... -
42-97322 Mister Completely, Home James
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 18/2/44; Dow Fd 7/3/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 1/5/44; no ops, transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-D] Deenethorpe 21/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 5/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance... -
42-97395 Chute The Works
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 25/2/44; Kearney 17/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-F] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; mechanical fault, with Dave Stauffer, caused fire and burnt out at RAF Saltby 25/43/45; 111m, Salvaged 2 SAD 25/3/45. CHUTE THE WORKS. -
42-97478 Shade Ruff #2
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/11/43; Wendover 12/12/43; Nutts Corner, Belfast, N. I. 20/1/44; Assigned 748BS/457BG Glatton 9/1/44; 749BS; transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-Q] Deenethorpe 11/3/44. ... -
42-97811 Slick Chick
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 4/3/44; Hunter 7/4/44; Grenier 30/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-N] Deenethorpe 21/5/44; Missing in Action Toulouse 25/6/44 with pilot John Myretrus, Co-pilot: Charles Davis, Tail gunner: Tom Elward, Bombardier: Thyrl Greer, Flight... -
42-97931 'MADAME QUEEN'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 8/4/44; Kearney 4/5/44; Dow Fd 21/5/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-Q] Deenethorpe 1/6/44; 614BS [IW-A]; Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 10/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap...
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2015 11:22:21 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/ |
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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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