VIII Bomber Command 53
1 May 1943Description
The U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the primary target. 78 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (19); 305BG (21); 306BG (18). Poor weather frustrates the bombing effort and only 29 of the 78 despatched are effective on the target. The ordnance used is the 2,000 lb. general purpose bomb, the heaviest that could be carried in the B-17 bomb rack. 7 B-17s are MIA and 1 B-17 from 306th BG is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). This aircraft is B-17F 42-29649 aboard which is Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt Maynard "Snuffy" H. Smith who is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions this day. The citation may be viewed at: http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3004/smith-maynard-h.php. The bomber gunners claim 18-6-8 against enemy aircraft.
The main B-17 force is supported by 24 B-24s: 44BG (18) and 93BG (6) despatched to fly a diversion along the Brittany coast. No losses or claims.
Mission Details
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Diversion for St. Nazaire mission.
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 24
- Aircraft effective: 24
SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: Bad weather over target. Groups trying 2000lb "Block Busters". Sgt. Maynard S. "Snuffy" Smith 423BS/306th Bomb Group (Waist Gunner on B-17 42-29649) is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this action. This is the 2nd CMOH awarded to a member of the 8th Air Force but the first AF enlisted man in history to win the award.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 57.00
- People killed in action: 57
- People wounded in action: 17
- People missing in action: 3
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 15
- People returned to duty: 7
- Aircraft sent: 78
- Aircraft effective: 29
- Aircraft missing in action: 7
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 20
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 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18057056 / O-724591
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
![Gunners of the 306th Bomb Group sit atop ammunition for a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 9 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273718.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ''THE DEFENSIVE POWER OF FLYING FORTRESSES. The extremely heavy defense of the Flying Fortresses has enabled them to fight their way through to targets like Huls and Kiel in the face of the most intensive fighter opposition aerial warfare has ever seen. The result of these](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379033.jpg.webp?itok=HZKmtCgX)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13087745
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19068071
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14054504 / O-442691
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885904
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Old Squaw
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
![Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group prepare to load bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Wallaroo". Passed as censored, then marked 'Confidential' 27 Aug 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303. 27-8-43 A.' On reverse: 'Confidential Until Re-Classified By Censor' and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407602.jpg.webp?itok=SOBOYHdl)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wallaroo
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
![The crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress (OR-T, serial number 42-5077) nicknamed "Delta Rebel No II" at Bassingbourn. Image stamped on reverse: ’Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 24 Mar 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 24 MAR 1943 INTLD 32 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp on appendage]. 'Associated Press' [stamp]. '254760' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES DAY RAID ON WILHELMSHAVEN The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attac](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379161.jpg.webp?itok=Nab7DCHZ)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Delta Rebel No. 2
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fast Woman : Fast Worker MK II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shades Of Stricnine : Son
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 31-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. Maynard information from "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey and Congressional Medal of Honor Society. http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3004/smith-maynard-h.php
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'.