VIII Bomber Command 44
17 March 1943Description
A combination of 78 B-17s from the 4 active Bomb Groups are despatched to attack the marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville, France. However, the weather is terrible and the schedules fighter escort was prevented from taking off causing a recall of the attacking force before they had even left English airspace.
A combination of 28 B-14s from the 2 active Bomb Groups are despatched on a diversionary sweep over the North Sea but are recalled when main attacking force of B-17s is recalled.
Mission Details
NORTH SEA
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 28 B-24s fly a diversionary mission over the N. Sea. All bombers are recalled due to bad weather. There is no fighter escort.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 28
ROUEN/SOTTEVILLE (Primary)
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 78
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728325
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 27-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
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'.