VIII Bomber Command 9

5 September 1942

Official 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.

A bomber crew of the 301st Bomb Group with their A-20 Havoc after being awarded medals. From left to right, they are Sergeant B.B. Cunningham of Tupelo, Missouri; Sergeant R.L. Golay of Fredonia, Kansas; Second Lieutenant M. Dorton of Long Beach; and Major Charles C. Kegelman. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 11 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Not to be published until 12/7/42.' [stamp], 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'USA (NIR)CCC.' [written annotation] and '209807.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on rev

15th Bomb Squadron

  • 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.

301st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 70.50
  • Aircraft sent: 37
  • Aircraft effective: 31

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Aircraft

Wes Gallagher, a war correspondent for the Associated Press stationed in North Africa, was allowed aboard a 301st Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress on the Group's raid on Tunis in early January 1943. He photographed one of the 301st Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses (serial number 41-24418) through the waist gunner's window aboard the B-17 Flying Fortress he was riding in. Passed for publication 16 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '301BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Pictures Taken During Actual B

41-24418

  • 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

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Moved pin from Rouen to the Marshalling Yard at Sotteville-Les-Rouens

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "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'.