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17 August 1942
![A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. They are from left to right: Lieutenant Frank R. Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieutenant Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; Glen V. Leland, of St. Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergeant Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Sergeant Zane Gemmill, of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942' [stamp], 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'USA(BRI)CCC' [ written annotation]. '216113'[ Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES RAID IN DAYLIGHT Associated press photo shows: The crew who flew the leading Flying Fortress in the raid are seen here lined up under the nose of the plane. Left to right they are Lieut. Frank R Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieut. Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; ;Glen v. Leland, of St.Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergt Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Serg. Zane Gemmill, of ST. Clair, Penn. AKP/ROB 249453 18842a.'](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-379313.jpg?itok=4CdwQy5H)
A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. They are from left to right: Lieutenant Frank R. Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieutenant Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; Glen V. Leland, of St. Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergeant Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Sergeant Zane Gemmill, of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942' [stamp], 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'USA(BRI)CCC' [ written annotation]. '216113'[ Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES RAID IN DAYLIGHT Associated press photo shows: The crew who flew the leading Flying Fortress in the raid are seen here lined up under the nose of the plane. Left to right they are Lieut. Frank R Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieut. Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; ;Glen v. Leland, of St.Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergt Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Serg. Zane Gemmill, of ST. Clair, Penn. AKP/ROB 249453 18842a.'
![Film star turned Intelligence Officer Gene Raymond of the 97th Bomb Group questions his comrades following a raid on Rouen.
NOTE by L2M2: Pictured far left is then Captain William B. Musselwhite.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.', '216129' [ Censor no] and 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942' [stamp].
Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT Associated Press photo shows: Gene Raymond ex-Hollywood film star now intelligence office in the U.S. Army Air Corps questions Sgt. Kent West of West Blocton, ALA. Rear Gunner who shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 as the first All-American victim on the European front in this war. The pilot of West's plane was Lt. Tom Borders of Birmingham, ALA ( extreme right) AKP ROB 249457/8/9 i8842N.'](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-379316.jpg?itok=_956y0Rs)
Film star turned Intelligence Officer Gene Raymond of the 97th Bomb Group questions his comrades following a raid on Rouen. NOTE by L2M2: Pictured far left is then Captain William B. Musselwhite. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.', '216129' [ Censor no] and 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT Associated Press photo shows: Gene Raymond ex-Hollywood film star now intelligence office in the U.S. Army Air Corps questions Sgt. Kent West of West Blocton, ALA. Rear Gunner who shot down a Focke-Wulf 190 as the first All-American victim on the European front in this war. The pilot of West's plane was Lt. Tom Borders of Birmingham, ALA ( extreme right) AKP ROB 249457/8/9 i8842N.'
![US and British Officers look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood after the 8th Air Force's first heavy bomber raid on 17 August 1942, over the Marshalling Yards at Rouen.
General Carl A Spaatz stands to the left of the ladder, Beirne Lay behind the guide rope and Fred Castle on the near corner. Many other officers from 8th Air Force Bomber Command are also present.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 1, 17/8/42 A.'](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-379323.jpg?itok=NiDZY1-A)
US and British Officers look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood after the 8th Air Force's first heavy bomber raid on 17 August 1942, over the Marshalling Yards at Rouen. General Carl A Spaatz stands to the left of the ladder, Beirne Lay behind the guide rope and Fred Castle on the near corner. Many other officers from 8th Air Force Bomber Command are also present. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 1, 17/8/42 A.'
Glued to back of photo is piece of paper with mimeographed typing which reads...... PASSED BY THE CENSOR NO. 216109 U.S.FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. YESTERDAY EVENING, AUGUST 17, TWELVE U.S. FLYING FORTRESSES BOMBED THE RAILWAY MARSHALLING YARDS AT ROUEN IN OCCUPIED FRANCE IN THE FIRST ALL-AMERICAN RAID ON EUROPE. THE RAID WAS LED PERSONALLY BY GRIG.-GEN. IRA EAKER, CHIEF OF THE U.S. MOMBERCOMMAND IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, WHO SAID "THE WHOLE THING WENT OFF AS PLANNED". AN INTERCEPTING FOCKE-WULF 100 WAS SHOT DOWN BY A 21 YEAR OLD SERGEANT GUNNER. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS: IN THE OFFICERS MESS AFTER THE RAID, PILOTS, NAVIGATORS AND BOMBARDIERS CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESSFUL EVENING'S WORK. CENTER IS CAPT. WILLIAM MUSSELWHITE OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPI, HOLDING THE WIRE FROM THE FIRST BOMB, DROPPED BY HIS FORTRESS. AKP/ROB 24951 18842n Name is underlined and there is a date stamp in red of AUG 1942.
Sgt Kent R. West interviewed on 18 August 1942 (cropped from FRE 880)
Scanned copy of original Loading List (operational FLIGHT REPORT) for the B-17E YANKEE DOODLE (41-9023) for the August 17, 1942 97th Bombardment Group Mission #1. Capt. Rudolph E. Flack (414th Bomb Squadron CO and Grafton Underwood Base Commander) served as the mission commander on this flight. The following link plays a historical August 17, 1942 film clip with sound taken by the British media where Capt. Flack is introduced as the ''Commanding Officer'' for this mission by Colonel Armstrong (97th Bomb Group CO) at the 1min 15sec mark; whereby, Capt. Flack stands in front of the entire bomb group to present his pre-mission briefing statement, which completes at the 1min 34sec mark: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/flying-fortresses-bomb-france/query/b17).
12 B-17’s of 97th Bomb Group, escorted by Spitfires, launch first Army Air Force Heavy Bomber attack from UK against Western Europe. Target is Rouen-Sotteville Marshalling Yard. Sergeant Kent R West shoots down German fighter, thus becoming the first Eighth Air Force gunner to receive credit for a combat kill.
The US 8AF launches its first strategic bombing raid of the war, sending 12 Boeing B-17Es of the 97BG on a strike against the railyards of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, while another six fly a diversionary route. The attacking force is split into two formations: the first led by CO 97BG COL Frank A. Armstrong, Jr. aboard Butcher Shop (41-2578), the second led by CG VIII BC BG Ira C. Eaker aboard Yankee Doodle (41-9023). The strike is intended to support the upcoming Operation JUBILEE with its amphibious landings on Dieppe, France.
The strike sees the 8AF’s gunners achieve their first aerial victory when a FW-190A-3 (4332) piloted by Leutnant Herbert Horn (I/JG2) is shot down by SSGT Kent R. West, ball turret gunner on the Birmingham Blitzkrieg (41-9100).
12 B-17s of the 97th Bomb Group are dispatched to bomb railway marshaling yards at Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France.
The 97th Bomb Group took off from Grafton Underwood at 16:27 and bombed the target between 17:39 and 17:46. Accuracy was poor.
Despite worst fears, only two bombers sustained superficial damage during the mission.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Strike Force:
Boeing B-17E 41-2578 340BS/97BG Butcher Shop
Boeing B-17E 41-9125 342BS/97BG Prowler
Boeing B-17E 41-9026 342BS/97BG Baby Doll
Boeing B-17E 41-9042 342BS/97BG Berlin Sleeper
Boeing B-17E 41-9043 342BS/97BG Peggy D
Boeing B-17E 41-9017 342BS/97BG Heidi Ho
Boeing B-17E 41-9023 414BS/97BG Yankee Doodle
Boeing B-17E 41-9089 414BS/97BG Johnny Reb
Boeing B-17E 41-9103 414BS/97BG Dixie Demo
Boeing B-17E 41-9021 414BS/97BG Big Bitch
Boeing B-17E 41-9030 414BS/97BG Big Punk
Boeing B-17E 41-9100 414BS/97BG Birmingham Blitzkrieg
The lead aircraft of the 340th Bomb Squadron was Butcher Shop (41-2578) flown by Captain Paul W Tibbets, Jr. (Commanding Officer 340th BS) and co-piloted by Colonel Frank A Armstrong, Jr. (Commanding Officer 97th BG) in the first Flight group of six Fortresses. The remaining five Fortresses in the first Flight group were from the 342nd Bomb Squadron.
The lead aircraft of the 414th Bomb Squadron was Yankee Doodle (41-9023) flown Captain Rudolph E Flack (Commanding Officer 414th BS, Grafton Underwood Base Commander and Mission Commander), co-piloted by 2nd Lieutenant John R Dowswell and carried Brigadier General Ira C Eaker (Commanding Officer, 8th Air Force Bomber Command) as an Observer in the second Flight group of six Fortresses. The remaining five Fortresses in the second Flight group were from the 414th Bomb Squadron.
Staff Sergeant Kent West, Ball Turret Gunner aboard Birmingham Blitzkrieg (41-9100) claimed the only aerial victory of the mission. Shooting down an FW-190 flown by Leutnant Herbert Horn of Jagdeschwader 2.
Group
The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...
Squadron
Squadron
Squadron
| Tonnage dropped | 18.45 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 12 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 12 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 1 |
6 B-17 Flying Fortresses flew a diversionary route.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Diversion Force: Boeing B-17E 41-9085 340BS/97BG Jarrin' Jenny
Group
The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...
Squadron
| Number of aircraft Sent | 6 |
Fighter escort for the bomber force was provided by RAF Spitfires.
Spitfire
3 aircraft were shot down by enemy fighters of Jagdgeschwader 26
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding Officer; Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Commanded 97th BG from 31 July 1942 to 27 September 1942.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 97th Bomb Group
Lt Thomas Borders graduated from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa before enlisting in the Air Corps in July 1941. Assigned as a Pilot in the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron, he was sent overseas. He was Pilot of "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" on...
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force
Commanding General of 8th AF 1 December 1942 to 5 January 1944. Following that, Eaker was given command of all Allied air forces in the MTO, and in April 1945 became Deputy CG of the USAAF. Retired July 1947.
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Military | Colonel | Pilot, Squadron CO, Base CO, Wing CO, NASAF Ops Ofcr, 2nd AAF C-of-S | 97th Bomb Group
Rudolph Emil "Rudy" Flack, the son of German emigrates, was born on November 11, 1916 in Fanwood, New Jersey. Rudy’s father (Fred) was a master precision machinist in aircraft manufacturing from 1910 thru 1928 and then worked for MGM Studios as...
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 97th Bomb Group
Fleming Goolsby was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group/414th Bomb Squadron. He was Co-Pilot of "Birmingham Blitzkrieg" on VIII Bomber Command's first Heavy Bomber raid to Rouen, France on 17 August 1942. Transferred to North Africa with the 97thBG, he was...
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 97th Bomb Group
A Norristown, PA tavern keeper's son, Walter Kelly graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He enlisted in the Air Corps in June 1941 and started training as a pilot. After receiving his wings, he flew on...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 93rd Bomb Group
William Musselwhite served as a pilot with the 97th Bomb Group out of Grafton Underwood. He flew in the first all-American raid on Europe on 17 August 1942.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Note : the 1930 US Census has his family's name wrongly spelled as Nally... This was corrected in the 1940 one > Nalley...
A Top Turret Gunner, Roy Nalley was shot down on 21 October 1942 in B-17 #41-24443, Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 97th Bomb Group
Lt Ewart Sconiers was Bombardier on B-17 #41-9089 'Johnny Reb', one of the 12 B-17s participating in the first heavy bomber raid of the 8th Air Force on 17 August 1942. The target were the shipyards of Rouen/Sotteville, France.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 97th Bomb Group
Note : In both the 1930 and 1940 Censuses, Harold and his parents are listed as Spires. All later documents, including his Enlistment records, his Escape & Evasion Report have him as Harold Spire...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17E
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17E
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17E
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17E
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Boeing B-17E
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 414BS/97BG MacDill, FL, force landed base with Joe Bernhardt 27/3/42; Grenier, NH with Bill Saunders force landed Buhl, ID 15/6/42; Polebrook 3/42; with Lt. William P. Saunders took part in 8AF 1st raid 17/8/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 4/12...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered ?; Assigned 342BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42 as THE BERLIN SLEEPER; with Lt George D.Burgess took part in 1st 8AF mission 17/8/42; transferred 325BS/92BG [NV-T/B] Bovingdon 9/42; force landed Hendon with Alan Hermance 16/10/42 Missing Air Crew...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 342BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42 PEGGY D on co-pilot’s side; with Capt Bill Musselwhite on 1st 8AF mission 17/8/42; 92BG Bovingdon /9/42; transferred 534BS/381BG [GD-A1] Ridgewell 7/43 as hack & tow target; to 2SAD 21/8/43 and ret 24/8/43 used to...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17E Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9085) nicknamed 'Jarrin' Jenny' became the first USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress to land in the UK, when it landed at Prestwick on 1 July 1942.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Sarasota 15/4/42. Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 4/42. Flew on first 8th Air Force heavy bomber mission 17 August 1942 with Pilot Lt. Richard S. Starks (WIA 21/8/42); Co-pilot: Donald A. Walter (KIA 21/8/42); Navigator: Harold Spire;...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 September 2020 14:17:17 | Emily | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Amends to Sotteville/Rouen Mission notes suggested by User RickFlack ( Son of Rudolph Flack) based on information in his father's records. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 11:42:27 | Emily | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History, Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary Amended and information added by GBlume to put mission narrative and notes into plain English |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 September 2018 11:18:16 | 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, |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 May 2017 10:48:49 | GBlume | Changes to description |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 May 2017 08:18:14 | GBlume | Changes to name |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 May 2017 06:35:10 | GBlume | Changes to media associations |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 May 2017 06:34:03 | GBlume | Changes to media associations |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 May 2017 06:28:59 | GBlume | Changes to name, description and aircraft associations |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 May 2017 06:23:11 | GBlume | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 May 2017 06:04:06 | GBlume | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 May 2017 06:00:31 | GBlume | Changes to event |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 February 2015 18:02:12 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
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Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Rouen statistics per 'The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 October 2014 22:05:48 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Oct-2014. Mission details were garnered from "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" of Roger A Freeman; "Losses of the 8th and 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A Hey MBE. Mission descriptions authored by Mr. Cunningham based on research from the sources listed. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:16 | 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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