VIII Bomber Command 18

9 November 1942

Official Description

VIII BC attacks U-boat base at Saint-Nazaire from reduced altitude. 12 B-24’s at 17,500 to 18,300 ft suffer little AA damage, but 31 B-17’s at 7,500 to 10,000 ft lose 3 of their number and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends experiment with low-level attacks of HBs against submarine bases.

Description

The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the target of this mission conducted by a combined force of 33 B-17s from 91BG and 306BG together with a combined force of 14 B-24s from 44BG and 93BG. The B-24 formation bombs from altitudes between 17,500 ft. to 18,300 ft. The B-17 formation are ordered to bomb from altitudes between 7,500 ft. to 10,000 ft. in hopes of increasing bombing accuracy and concentration on the target. The B-17 formation is pounded by anti-aircraft fire with three aircraft lost and another 22 taking damage. This is the last time heavy bombers will attempt low-level approaches.

Mission Details

SAINT-NAZAIRE

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: The B-17s try to attack from a low altitude (7,500 to 10,000 feet), lose 3 and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends the experiment with low-level attacks by heavy bombers against submarine pens. There is no fighter escort for this mission.

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
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 68.50
  • People killed in action: 23
  • Prisoners of war: 8
  • Aircraft sent: 33
  • Aircraft effective: 31
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 22

SAINT-NAZAIRE

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: The B-24s attack from 17,500 to 18,000 feet and only one suffers AA damage.

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 45.00
  • Aircraft sent: 14
  • Aircraft effective: 12
  • Aircraft damaged: 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: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-435845
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: FR 32992, O-431021
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19065003
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
First Lieutenant Harold Beasley,of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress. Press caption for image series: ‘EXCLUSIVE PICTURES AS CREWS RETURN FROM RAID. Night and Day air blitz of enemy continues. “Forts” smash Axis factories at Antwerp. Raid carried out by crews who took part in Paris raid previous day. The greatest air offensive in history is being carried out by the Anglo-American air forces. For 72 hours bombs have been crashing down on Hitler’s Europe in the West almost nonstop. A
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-379237
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13030895
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Ground personnel of the 306th Bomb Group paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24486) nicknamed "Man O' War". Image stamped on reverse: Passed for publication 6 Nov 1942.' [stamp] and '231639.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"MAN O' WAR" OF THE FLYING FORTRESSES. "Man-o-War" - the famous American racehorse, has provided the crew of a B-17 - one of the Flying Fortresses now used by the United States Of America Air Force stationed in the country - with an inspiration for
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Man O War
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Swoose
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rose ODay
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Oct-2014. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

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'.