VIII Bomber Command 9
5 September 1942Official Description
31 B-17’s bomb the locomotive depot at Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. This is largest force of Eighth AF HBs to attack to date. Almost 1/5 of the HE bombs burst within the M/Y.
Because of Gen Spaatz’s convincing protests, Gen Eisenhower changes his mind concerning his recent orders to suspend Eighth AF operations from UK in order to devote total air effort to support of Twelfth AF an the forth coming African campaign. Gen Eisenhower informs Gen Marshall that he considers air operations in UK and in Africa mutually complementary.
Description
15BS despatches 12 DB-7 A-20 bombers to attack the port area of Le Harve, France. 1st mission for 15BS under 8th AF control; 97BG & 301BG attack the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/ Sotteville, France.
Mission Details
LE HARVE
Description: PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
Notes: 11 of 12 attack. No losses, claims or casualties.
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 11.00
- Aircraft sent: 12
- Aircraft effective: 11
SOTTEVILLE LES ROUENS
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: This is the first mission flown by the 301st Bomb Group. Bomb Group reports indicate almost 20% of the high explosive bombs burst within the marshalling yard. Up to this point the 8th Air Force has been lucky, with only damaged aircraft. However, that is about to change. This is the largest force of bombers to attack a target to date. 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
- Tonnage Dropped: 70.50
- Aircraft sent: 37
- Aircraft effective: 31
Connections
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Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mickey Finn aka Special Delivery II
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 398th Bomb Group 352nd Bomb Squadron 32nd Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "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'.