407 | American Air Museum in Britain

8th Air Force mission 407; Florennes, Belgium Air Field; June 12, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

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8th Air Force mission 407; June 12, 1944; Beaumont, France. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

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8th Air Force mission 407; June 12, 1944; Conches, France air field. 447th Bomb Group strike photo

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Official description

Not yet known

Description

Willie Hussong got his arm caught in the door of the lower ball turret. Palmer and Rollinger pried him out with a gun barrel. Bombed an airfield. Hussong hospitalized.

Mission details

1. Vitry-en-Artois,- 457th Bomb Group

Description

Not yet known

Aircraft type

B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes

Once again bad weather prevents priority targets in Germany from being attacked. Thus, 1,442, Bombers are despatched against airfields and landing grounds in NE France. Rail and road bridges on the Brest Peninsula are also hit.

1st Bomb Division is 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group.

3rd Bomb Division was made up of 34th Bomb Group, 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 38th 8Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group, 493rd Bomb Group.

2nd Bomb Division is 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group.

457th BG - MISSION NO. 65 - , FRANCE

12 JUNE, 1944

The Eighth Air Force put 1,500 bombers aloft for widespread attacks on French airfields and transportation centers. The 457th put up three 12-ship boxes to comprise all craft for the 94th A Combat Wing with the airfield at ViItry-en-Artois as the target. This field had been used by the RAF in 1939 and 1940, but more recently by the Luftwaffe for long range bombers as well as night fighters. Lt. Col. Henry B. Wilson was Air Commander and Lt. Vinton H. Mays was pilot. Captain Syptak led the high box and Major Spencer the low box.

En route to the target the formation encountered dense flak near Brussels. Fifteen planes were damaged by this concentration of flak. The lead craft of the low box, piloted by Major Spencer, was seriously hit, losing two engines; however, the aircraft successfully returned to the Base. The target was bombed with good results. On the return to England, while flying over Claxton at 4,500 feet, flak was encountered by one of the boxes.

The 12th of June also marked the promotion of Col. Luper, the Group Commander, to the rank of full Colonel. It was the impetus for a festive occasion on the Base.

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.
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

3,103 T