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RAF Bomber Command

12 July 1942

Official description

6 Bostons flown by US crews attack Abbeville/Drucat A/F.

Description

Bomber Command War Diaries:
12 Bostons bombed an airfield near Abbeville but results were not seen because of cloud. No aircraft were lost.

American crews flew in 6 of the Bostons, their last introductory flight with the Bostons of 2 Group. The Americans, from the 15th (Light) Bomb Squadron, had flown 13 sorties with the RAF's 226 Squadron but had lost 3 crews.

6 A-20 Boston III are borrowed from 226 Squadron RAF and flown by American pilots of the 8th Air Force, 15th Bombardment Squadron to attack the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France.

Mission details

1. Abbeville/ Drucat

Description

AIRFIELD

Aircraft type

A-20 Havoc

Notes

6 Boston (A-20s), borrowed from RAF 15th Bomb Squadron, with 8th Air Force crews are despatched to attack the airfield at Abbeville, France. All 6 hit the target, but two are damaged. No casualties. The 15th Bomb Squadron stands down after this mission to prepare their own A-20 Bostons which are ex-RAF machines. They will fly their first mission under 8th Air Force control on 5-Sep-42, dispatching 12 aircraft.

Units

  • 15th Bomb Squadron

    15th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron
    The 15th Bomb Squadron was the first US bomb unit sent to UK. Flying personnel arrived at Newport without aircraft on 13 May 1942. ...

Mission Statistics

Number of aircraft Sent 6
Number of aircraft Effective 6
Number of aircraft Damaged 2

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
05 September 2019 11:33:11 Emily Changes to name and official description
Sources

Added official mission narrative from:
Air Force Combat Chronology.
Middlebrook and Everitt, Bomber Command War Diaries.
Date Contributor Update
22 August 2018 15:47:19 Emily Changes to official description
Sources

THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History,
Date Contributor Update
18 October 2014 23:07:54 Lee8thbuff Changes to name and description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Oct-43 "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:43:14 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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