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.
414
15 June 1944
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"At Cinqmars in northern France, Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the U.S. 8th AAF dropped heavy concentrations on the bridge there. This attack occurred on 15 June 1944."
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B-24J-145-CO #44-40124 The Uninvited 491BG 853BS T8-C Crash landed at Metfield 15 June 1944
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"Attacked previously on 15 June 44, this is how the German airdrome at Bordeaux, France appeared to crews of an 8th USAAF heavy bomber on 19 June 44 as they returned to attack again."
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"Heavy concentration of bomb bursts at the Chouze bridge in Northern France, 15 June 44, as 8th Air Force B-24 Liberators launched their attack."
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"Heavy concentrations of bombs, drooped by bombers of the 389th Bomb Group, explode on important bridge across the Chouze river in Chouze, France, during a raid on 15 June 1944."
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"CINQMARS IN FRANCE-Beneath this erupting blanket lies one of the key bridges in Cinqmars in Northern France, attacked by U.S. 8th Air Force Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" 8 June 44 as they continued their assault on German communications."
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"Direct hits have partially damaged one end of the bridge at Cinqmars, France during the attack by U.S. 8th AAF heavy bombers on 15 June 1944. Hits have also severed the railway in two places."
Official description
Not yet known
Description
Not yet known
Mission details
1.
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 22 T |
2. ANGOULEME (Primary)
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
457th BG - MISSION NO. 67 - ANGOULEME, FRANCE
15 JUNE, 1944
A German panzer division, which had been disposed in southwestern France, was scheduled to entrain at Angouleme for the Normandy beachhead. The delay or destruction of the division had been requested by the Allied ground forces. The 457th and the 35 1st Groups were assigned the task. The 457th sent thirty-six aircraft aloft to compose the entire 94th B Combat Wing. The 351St comprised the A Combat Wing. Major William F. Smith was the 457th's Air Commander with Captain Russell M. Selwyn as pilot of the lead B box. Major Theodore C. Hoffman was Commander of the high B box with Lt. Mark R. Beicher as pilot, and Major Jacob M. Dickinson Commander of the low B box, with Captain Alfred W. Fischer as pilot.
Entry into France was over the Normandy beachhead. CAVU conditions existed for the first time since the commencement of the invasion and the entire fighting area was visible to the crews. The Group bombed the marshaling yards with excellent results, leaving a pile of rubble. The special request of the ground forces had been fulfilled.
En route back to England, along the coast of the Bay of Biscay, across the Brest Peninsula and the English Channel, perfect visibility enabled the crews to observe the vast shipping of both the enemy forces and the Allies There was no enemy aircraft opposition and flak was light and inaccurate.
Units
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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 | 204 T |
3. BEAUVOIR (Primary)
Description
V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 176 T |
4. BORDEAUX/MERIGNAC (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 343 T |
5. BUC (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 63 T |
6. CINQ MARS (Primary)
Description
BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 141 T |
7. ETAMPES/MONDESIR (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 118 T |
8. ÉVREUX (Primary) / FAUVILLE (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 183 T |
9. GAEL (Opportunistic)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 35 T |
10. GUYANCOURT (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 69 T |
11. HANNOVER (Opportunistic)
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 5 T |
12. HANNOVER/MISBURG (Primary)
Description
OIL REFINERY
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
3rd Bomb Division attacks on these targets were made by the B-17 Groups, i.e. 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 486 Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group.
Units
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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 | 419 T |
13. HELGOLAND ISLAND (Opportunistic)
Description
TROOP CONCENTRATION
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 2 T |
14. LA POISSONNIERE (Primary)
Description
RAIL JUNCTION
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 176 T |
15. LE MANS (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 46 T |
16. LE PORT BOULET (Primary)
Description
RAILROAD BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
All 2nd Bomb Division except the 458th Bomb Group and all of the 3rd Bomb Division take part. 12 B-24s use Azon missiles against the Etaples railroad bridge and 7 others use missiles against the Pecrone railroad bridge.
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 267 T |
17. NANTES (Opportunistic)
Description
VIADUCT
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 25 T |
18. NANTES (Primary)
Description
RAILROAD BRIDGE-NORTH
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 210 T |
19. NANTES (Primary)
Description
RAILROAD BRIDGE-SOUTH
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 137 T |
20. ORLEANS/SARAN (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 36 T |
21. ST CYR (Primary)
Description
COMMUNICATIONS TARGETS
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 81 T |
22. TOURS -LA RICHE (Primary)
Description
HIGHWAY BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 35 T |
23. TOURS-LA RICHE (Primary)
Description
RAILROAD BRIDGE
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 174 T |
24. TOURS-LA-FRILLERIE (Primary)
Description
TRANSPORTATION TARGET
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 199 T |
25. WESERMUNDE (Primary)
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 40 T |
26. WILSTER (Primary)
Description
INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Aircraft type
Not yet known
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
| Tonnage dropped | 42 T |
Service
People
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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 -
John Baumgardner
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
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Hobert Beavers
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Radio Operator | 388th Bomb Group
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Carmen Bell
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
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George Boozer
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 388th Bomb Group
The person with this name and birth/death dates buring at Fort Bliss National Cemetery is listed as "Master Sergeant - US Army" on his headstone. Boozer is wearing Captain's bars in his photo. This birth and death date may well be for the wrong ... -
Charles Brashear
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
Shot down, crashed near Bazas, France on 15 June 1944 in B-17 #42-38009. Helped by French citizens and members of the Maquis. Stayed in the Bordeaux area and was flown from Biarritz to England on 26 September 1944. Evaded (EVD). See the full story of... -
Harold Brooks
Military | Radio Operator | 381st Bomb Group
Harold Brooks was Radio Operator on B-17 #42-38009. Shot down, crashed Coimères, near Bazas, France on 15 June 1944. Helped by French citizens and members of the Maquis. Crossed the Pyrénées mountains into Spain on 5 August, reached Gibraltar on 14... -
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... -
Alfred Campbell
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
Alfred Campbell Jr was Right Waist gunner on B-17 #42-38009 hit by Flak on the 15 June 1944 mission to Bordeaux-Mérignac. Crashed Coimères, near Bazas, France. Helped by French citizens and members of the Maquis. Crossed the Pyrénées mountains into... -
Frank Champ
Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 381st Bomb Group
Frank Champ was Navigator on B-17 #42-38009, shot down on 15 June 1944. Crashed Coimères, near Bazas, France. Helped by French citizens and members of the Maquis. Crossed the Pyrénées mountains into Spain on 4 August, reached Gibraltar on the 25th and...
Aircraft
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42-97194 Good Pickin'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/44; Kearney 24/2/44; Presque Is 11/3/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-O] Horham 11/3/44; with G.M. Jackman force landed B-53 Merville, Belg., 10/5/45; with Lt Henderson force landed A-70 Laon, France 20/5/45; 114m Returned to the USA... -
42-102589
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/44; Gr Island 6/4/44; Dow Fd 28/4/44; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 30/4/44; On a local flight 9/7/44 with Doug McArthur, Co-pilot: Stamos Zades, Navigator: George Mille, Bombardier: Chas Meyer, Flight engineer/top turret... -
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;... -
42-38009
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 11/11/43; Gr Island 1/12/43; Presque Is 13/12/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-N] Ridgewell 8/1/44. 12m Missing in Action on its 12th mission, to Bordeaux-Mérignac, France on 15 June 1944. Pilot Charles Kelley, Co-pilot: Robert C.... -
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. ... -
42-38052 Lucky Stehley Boy, Hotshot Green
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17G-25-DL 42-38052 was one of 2,400 B-17 Flying Fortress four-engine heavy bombers built under license by the Douglas Aircraft Company at Long Beach, California from 1943 to 1945. -052 was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces on Christmas Eve, 24... -
42-97844
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 14/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-R] Horham 20/4/44; with Glovik 7/10/44, Waist gunner: Chas Buda KIA; 97m, Missing in Action Frankfurt 9/3/45 with Bill Durant (Ouratt?), Co-pilot: Dwight King, Navigator... -
44-40200 Delirious Dolores
B-24 Liberator
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42-95021 San Antonio Rose
B-24 Liberator
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2015 11:37:23 | 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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