VIII Bomber Command 40

6 March 1943
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Public To See Veteran Raider. The famous Flying Fortress "Hell's Angels," which has raided enemy territory 41 times dropping 205,000 lbs of bombs and shooting down 16 enemy fighters, is to be flown to the United States where it will "tour" the country for inspection by the American public. Its targets include St. Nazaire (3 times), Wilhelmshave media-407591.jpg FRE 4209 The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Public To See Veteran Raider. The famous Flying Fortress "Hell's Angels," which has raided enemy territory 41 times dropping 205,000 lbs of bombs and shooting down 16 enemy fighters, is to be flown to the United States where it will "tour" the country for inspection by the American public. Its targets include St. Nazaire (3 times), Wilhelmshaven (4 times), Paris (4 times), Hamm (twice), Lorient (4 times), Rouen (2), Lille (2), Rotterdam (2), Hamburg (2), Antwerp (2) and one raid on each on [each] Brest, Rennes, Amiens, Vegesack, Meanete, Kiel, Le Mans, Paix, Hanover, Abbeville, Schweinfurt,. Total combat time ... 207 hours, 25 minutes. Total flying time ... 531 hours, 20 minutes. ABS/F. Keystone.' Printed caption also attached: '(8). Major Kirk R. Mitchell from Oklahoma City, the Squadron Commander of the wing in which “Hell’s Angels” flies, tries the controls of the famous raider’s cockpit.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo.

Object Number - FRE 4209 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on...

Description

German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a primary objective for American heavy bomber crews. On this date the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for the main formation of B-17s and in addition the harbour facilites at Brest, France become the primary target of for a formation of B-24s. The attack on Brest is considered a diversion for the main attack on Lorient.



71 B-17s are despatched to attack Lorient, France: 91BG (14); 303BG (18); 305BG (18), 306BG (21). 65 of these are effective on the target and 3 are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 7 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 enemy aircraft probabaly destroyed; and 1 enemy aircraft damaged (7-2-1)



15 B-24s are despatched to attack the harbour facilities at Brest, France: 44BG (10) and 93BG (5) All 15 ar effective on the target and the bomber gunners claim 2-0-2 on enemy aircraft.

Mission Details

BREST (Primary)

Description: U-BOAT PENS

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: This is a diversionary raid to assist the Lorient raid.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 44.50
  • Aircraft sent: 15
  • Aircraft effective: 15
  • Aircraft damaged: 3

LORIENT (Primary)

Description: POWER PLANT, BRIDGE, PORT AREA

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: There is no fighter escort for this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 162.50
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People evaded: 1
  • Prisoners of war: 22
  • People returned to duty: 1
  • Aircraft sent: 71
  • Aircraft effective: 65
  • Aircraft missing in action: 3
  • Aircraft damaged: 8

Connections

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

People

Fred O Deal

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34211267
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Eugene W Eckard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18084492
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Jesse H Elliott

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728188
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Meyer Etkin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19075295 at enlistment, then O-664296
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Jacob Wayne Fredericks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 3rd Bomb Division 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-430990
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-U, serial number 42-5177) nicknamed "Fast Woman (Fast Worker II)". Image via Pete Bowens.

42-5177

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fast Woman : Fast Worker MK II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

42-5243

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: FDR's Potato Peeler Kids
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

42-5257

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Bea Haven
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

42-5260

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Yardbird II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
The control tower at Thurleigh air base. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible in the background. Image via Mike Bowyer A veteran has written on the reverse: 'From Mike Bowyer 3/72 from collection of wing/Co. 76 sqd. Halifax at Home. RAF station WWII.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WW:G 25729, GY:X.'

42-5262

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorNordicFox
Changes
Sources

Corrected image from earlier upload

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Descriptions based on 'The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman

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'.

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