RAF Bomber Command
29 June 1942Official Description
Captain Charles C Kegelman, flying on a mission with 12 RAF Bostons against Hazebrouck marshaling yard, France, becomes the first member of the 8th Air Force drop bombs on enemy-occupied Europe.
The first pilot fatality of the 8th Air Force in the ETO is suffered when First Lieutenant Alfred W Giacomini of the 31st Fighter Group crashes a Spitfire while landing at Atcham, England.
Description
Bomber Command War Diaries:
12 Bostons bombed railway yards at Hazebrouck without loss. 1 of the Bostons was manned by Captain Kegelman and his all-American Crew, the First Americans of VIII Bomber Command to take part in a bomber operations. Their hosts were 226 Squadron at Swanton Morley.
12 Bostons assigned to RAF 226 Squadron were dispatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yard at Hazebrouck, France. One of the Bostons was flown by a Capt. Charles Kegelman and crew. This action was the first on any USAAF crew to bomb occupied Europe. Lt. Dorton was navigator or bombardier; Sgt Cunningham and Sgt. Golay were the other crew members.
Mission Details
HAZEBROUCK
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
Notes: No 2 Group, RAF 15th Bomb Squadron despatches one Boston (A-20) to bomb the Hazebrouk, Holland marshalling yards. RAF 226 Squadron dispatches 12 Bostons to also bomb this target. Captain Charles C. Kegelman and crew fly one of the Bostons to become the first USAAF crew to bomb Occupied Europe. No losses or casualties. Also, 1LT Alfred W. Giacomini, 31st Fighter Group becomes the first pilot fatality of the 8th Air Force in the European Theater of Operation (ETO) when his Spitfire crashes while landing at ATCHAM, England. The 31st Fighter Group did not participate in this raid.
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 1
- Aircraft effective: 1
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 14033694
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 31st Fighter Group 308th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-421595
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 07033184
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 15th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-22412
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Revisions
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History,
Lee Cunningham 8-Feb-2015. Added NOTE to VIEWERS by Mr. Lee Cunningham.
Corrected Lt Dorton's role. According to J Tokaz (340th BG Association)- the aircraft only had a single pilot so he was likely Bombardier/ Navigator.
Lee Cunningham 17-Oct-2014. Roger A Freeman's "Mighty Eighth War Diary."
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'.