VIII Bomber Command 14

9 October 1942

Official Description

B-24’s join air assault in first US mission in which more than 100 bmrs are dispatched from UK. The principal tgts are the steel and engineering works of the Compagnie de Fives at Lille and the locomotive and freight car works of Ateliers d’Hellemmes at Lille, which are attacked by 69 B-17’s and B-24’s. Other tgts attacked (by 10 HBs) are Courtrai/Wevelghem and Saint-Omer A/Fs and the city of Roubaix.

Description

Bombers are dispatched to bomb the steel and engineering works of the Compagnie de Fives at Lille, France and the locomotive and freight car works of Ateliers d'Hellemmes at Lille which are the Primary (P) targets. Other targets are Courtrai Airfield, Secondary target (S); Roubaix Airfield, Target of Opportunity (O) and Longuenesse Airfield at St. Omer, Target of Last Resort (L).

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Diversion for Lille raid.

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 7

COURTRAI (Secondary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: This is a secondary target for 306th Bomb Group

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 5.00
  • Aircraft sent: 2
  • Aircraft effective: 2

LILLE (Primary)

Description: COMPAGNIE DE FIVES STEEL WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The 306th Bomb Group, flying B-17s, flies its first mission. Largest formation despatched to date. Bomber gunner claims are displayed on this event for statistical purposes and represent the bundled total of all formations despatched on VIII BC Mission 14.

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 123.00
  • People killed in action: 12
  • People wounded in action: 11
  • People evaded: 2
  • Prisoners of war: 1
  • People returned to duty: 20
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 25
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 38
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 44
  • Aircraft sent: 89
  • Aircraft effective: 69
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
  • Aircraft damaged: 46

LILLE (Primary)

Description: COMPAGNIE DE FIVES STEEL WORKS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: The 93rd Bomb Group, flying B-24s, flies its first mission. First 8th Air Force B-24 mission and loss.

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 25.00
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 24
  • Aircraft effective: 10
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

ROUBAIX (Opportunistic)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: This is a target of opportunity for 301th Bomb Group.

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 2.50
  • Aircraft sent: 2
  • Aircraft effective: 2

SAINT OMER/ LONGEUNESSE (Last Resort)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: This is a target of last resort for the 92nd Bomb Group.

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 12.00
  • People killed in action: 5
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 3
  • Aircraft sent: 15
  • Aircraft effective: 6
  • Aircraft missing in action: 1

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35037406
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14067064
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19053673
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-442749
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Big Eagle / Bathtub Bessie
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Bomerang
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Snoozy II
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added bundled Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Nov-2014. Correct 93BG association.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Oct-2014. Description from 'USAAF Combat Chronology) Jack McKillop, http://www.usaaf.net/chron/42/oct42.htm

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 23-Oct-2014. Connection within web site data.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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'.