VIII Bomber Command 68

26 June 1943
Headshot of young man with dark wavy hair wearing sports jacket and tie UPL 65169 UPL 65169 David J. Hardin, Waist Gunner, 546th Bomb Squad, 384th bomb Group. KIA 26th June 1943, 42-3188, Mission No. 68
384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron VIII Bomber Command 68 42-3188 Grafton Underwood David Jackson Hardin On

Object Number - UPL 65169 - David J. Hardin, Waist Gunner, 546th Bomb Squad, 384th bomb Group. KIA 26th June 1943, 42-3188, Mission No. 68

Description

The targets for today are all Luftwaffe installations: the Villacoublay air depot SW of Paris, France is the primary; the airfield at Poissy, France is attacked as the secondary because of cloud cover; the airfield at Tricqueville, France; and the airfield at Le Mans, France. A force of 123 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG (14); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 351BG (21); 379BG (13); 381BG (19); and 384BG (18) to attack Villacoublay air depot. 5 of the 18 aircraft despatched by 92BG were YB-40 gunships. 1 of these flew with the 303BG, 1 with the 384BG and 3 with the 379th BG. Only 12 of the 124 despatched were able to bomb at Paris and 6 others bombed the secondary airfield at Poissy, France because of complete cloud cover of the air depot at Villacoublay. There is some fighter opposition and the bomber gunners claim 13-3-10 of the enemy aircraft. 

A second formation of 42 B-17s is depatched from: 305BG (21) and 306BG (21) to bomb the airfield at Tricqueville, France. This target is clear and 39 of the 42 B-17s despatched are effective on the target. The bomber gunners claim 4-2-0 of the enemy aircraft. 

A third formation of 81 B-17s is despatched from: 94BG (19); 95BG (18); 96BG (21); and 100BG (23) to bomb the airfield at Le Mans, France, but cloud cover prevents bombing and the formation turns back before reaching the target. There are no losses or claims. 

 

Mission Details

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: All return to base without bombing.

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • Aircraft sent: 81

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 12.25
  • Aircraft sent: 6
  • Aircraft effective: 6

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 90.15
  • Aircraft sent: 42
  • Aircraft effective: 39

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 91st Bomb Group despatched 19, 5 of which were 5YB-40 assigned to escort the bombers but none of the aircraft make it to the target. Only 6 aircraft from 92nd Bomb Group and 12 from 379th Bomb Group are effective. Fighters are despatched as escort for all elements. All 5 Missing in Action (MIA) aircraft are from 384th Bomb Group

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 28.00
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People wounded in action: 3
  • People evaded: 7
  • Prisoners of war: 38
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 17
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 5
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 10
  • Aircraft sent: 117
  • Aircraft effective: 12
  • Aircraft missing in action: 5
  • Aircraft damaged: 14

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-227
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665266
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16042061
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795180
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

Ground crew work of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Duchess". Passed for publication 20 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Famous Fortresses. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Ground crewmen at work on the Fortress "Duchess", which has already been on 50 missions over enemy territory. They are (left to right, lower): Sgt. Clyde L. Dewald, of 200 E Union St., Schnykill Haven, Penn.; and Sgt. James C. Hicks, of Rowtob, Henderson, K.Y.; (Upper) Cpl. Charles
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Patches (was originally named Cunningham's Coffin after the pilot, but no nose art carried)
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spitball
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza Vailable
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol Swayback, Moor Fidite
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorMags
Changes
Sources

303rd BG Web Page

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2015. Statistics and Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2014. Correction of typo in description.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2041. Description 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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