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
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39082742
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner; Assistant line chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14020972
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12036382
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-661979
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot & Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36523097
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: FDR's Potato Peeler Kids
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yardbird II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Witche's Tit
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Avenger
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stric Nine : City of Albuquerque
- 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'.