462

9 July 1944

Mission Details

BOUCHEMAINE (Opportunistic)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24 T

Description: HIGHWAY BRIDGE

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: 24 T

CHALONNES (Opportunistic)

Description: BRIDGE

Notes: Original mission was to bomb airfields and bridges in France, but cloud cover forced these to bomb targets of opportunity instead. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 92nd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 135 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 85 - HAUT MAISNIL BLANGEMONT, FRANCE - 9 JULY, 1944 A second attempt was made to bomb the pilotless aircraft sites that had been protected by clouds the day before. The 457th was assigned the same targets with the same type of force as was previously dispatched. Lt. Kenneth R. Johnston led the A box on Haut-Maisnil, and Captain Mark R. Beicher led the B box on Blangermont. Clouds over the base caused the assembly altitude to be changed several times, which delayed the operation. As a result, all control points had to be cut off on the flight to the point of departure from the English Coast. At the French Coast, the forces separated and headed for their individual targets. An almost complete undercast prevailed over this region of France and again these sites could not be bombed. A search was made for targets of opportunity, but the clouds hid everything. The planes then headed for England. Over the Channel the weather had closed in completely. Pre-frontal clouds existed from 2,000 feet altitude to 20,000 feet, it was raining and visibility was only three miles. At Glatton the clouds extended down to 800 feet. A diversion message was transmitted. The planes landed at other bases and returned to Glatton later that day after the weather cleared.

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 68T

LE CREUSOT (Opportunistic)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24 T

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17160682
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
Deloyt crew portrait
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-808214
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 39565010
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Smokey
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

369th Bomb Squadron Combat history, courtesy of Wayne Tolmachoff

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'.