Official description
17 HBs bomb Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. Bad weather prevents large attack planned for air installations at Romilly-sur-Seine.
Description
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is obscured by clouds so the force attacks the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville as a target of last resort (L), but clouds frustrate bombing and only 17 aircraft are effective and none of the 21 despatched by 305BG are able to bomb.
Second element: A force of 12 B-24s are despatched on a diversionary attack on the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France. These are joined by 6 B-17s despatched by 11th Combat Crew Replacement Center. The airfield is not bombed.
Mission details
1.
Description
DIVERSION
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
Not yet known
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
6 |
2. ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT (Primary)
Description
AIRFIELD
Aircraft type
B-24 Liberator
Notes
Cloud prevented bombing.
Units
-
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
12 |
3. ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE (Primary)
Description
AIR DEPOT
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
305th Bomb Group could not bomb because of cloud cover.
Units
-
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
21 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
1 |
Number of people Wounded in Action |
4 |
4. ROUEN/ SOTTEVILLE (Last Resort)
Description
MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
No fighter escort for any of the elements in this mission.
Units
-
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
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Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
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Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
40.00 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
60 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
17 |
Number of aircraft Missing In Action |
2 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
10 |
Number of people Killed In Action |
2 |
Number of people Wounded in Action |
8 |
Number of people Evaded |
9 |
Number of people Prisoners of War |
9 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command |
19 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command |
8 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
2 |
Service
People
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17 41-24566 'Zombie', 303BG/359BS while serving as Radio Operator on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15593. Participated in 4 Operations (1 was aborted)....
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
On 23 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24580 'Hell Cat', 303BG/358BS while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft was downed by fighters near Brest. He was able to parachute to safety and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW). Participated in 7 Operations -...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-1942 Assigned as and Aerial Gunner of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar". Apparently he and the crew were re-assigned to B-17F 41-24607 [GN-W] ...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 3 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24526 'Leaping Liz' while serving as Co-Pilot. Target was U/B yards (submarines) at St. Nazaire, France. Fighters attacked and plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA) Participated in 4 Operations -...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Co-Pilot of B-17F #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso Texas and arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft on 22-Oct-42.
...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F 41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth...
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Susfu".
Participated in 16 Missions (UNDER CONSTRUCTION). See Biography events.
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Arrived in Molesworth, UK with crew of "Susfu" on 22-Oct-42.
Operational participation UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
Baled out of B-17 41-24582 'One O' Clock Jump' while serving as Navigator 12-Dec-1942. Prisoner of War (POW). Flew 2 Operations (see Biography events).
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24517 [GN-O] 'Kali' 303BG/427BS assigned with crew on 1-May-42 at Alamogordo Field, Almogordo, New Mexico. Sent with crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine for deployment 5-Oct-42. Arrived at Molesworth, UK 24-Oct-42
...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-K] Kellogg Fd 15/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; CCRC Bovingdon 27/7/43; 384BG Grafton Underwood 22/9/43; Salvaged NBD 31/5/45. JERSEY BOUNCE.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;The aircraft participated in 12 Operations - 4 Aborted (See Biography events)
...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-25-BO 41-24558 [VK:F] "Hunga Dunga" was assigned to the 358BS/303BG [VK-F] at Bangor. Maine on 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action Vegasack 18-Mar-43 when it was attacked by enemy aircraft near Helgoland. Germany...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24566 'Zombie' [BN-W] was assigned 303BG/359BS [BN-W] at Alamogordo Field, New Mexico on 23-Jun-42. Stationed at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan until 3-Oct-42 when it went to Bangor, Maine for deployment to England.; Molesworth 25-Oct...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot: [GN:V] was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-W] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42.
...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24580 "Hellcat Agnes" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-C] Bangor 11-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-62. Participated in 6 Operations - 2 Aborts (See Biography events)
...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24582 'One O'Clock Jump', assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Bangor 11-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Despatched 12-Dec-42 on mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France but weather prevented bombing of that target and the...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24584 "Susfu" was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-Q] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; Missing in Action 23-Jan-43 while on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Attacked by German FW-190 fighters and crashed at...
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