16 September 1943
Official USAAF caption : "A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress takes off from Bassingbourne, England on its first mission using the new external bomb racks. 16 September 1943." The mission was to Nantes, France.
Official USAAF caption : "A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress takes off from Bassingbourne, England on its first mission using the new external bomb racks. 16 September 1943." The mission was to Nantes, France.
Crew of B-17F 42-29893 "El Diablo" in summer 1943. 1st Lt. John N. Beilstein - Bombardier, top row - 2nd from right
Floyd H. Jamerson
John Semach
Not yet known
This mission is composed of two elements: Bomb Groups from 1st Bomb Division and Bomb groups from 3rd Bomb Division. The first element is a combined force of 147 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 303BG (19); 305BG (16); 351BG (19); 379BG (19); 381BG (20); and 384BG (18). The primary targets for this mission are: the port facilities and German airfield Chateau Bougon at Nantes, France. The attacks will be made at approximately 1500hrs. 79 aircraft are effective on the port area and 51 aircraft are effective on th airfield. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 24KIA, 20POW, 16EVD, and 10RTD (Rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft is declared a Category E loss (Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR); 47 aircraft are damaged and 9 airmen are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners of this element claim 22-2-5 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element is a combined force of 148 B-17s from: 95BG (24); 96BG (20); 100BG (19); 388BG (18); 390BG (24); 94BG (21); and 385BG (22). The original target for this element was the aircraft factories at Bordeux, France, but cloud cover obscures the target and the formations seek out other targets: the port area of La Paillice; the German airfields of Larochelle/Laleau and Cognac/Chateaubernard, France. The Bomb Groups took off just before Noon and planned to attack at approximately 1530hrs, however weather problems and diversion to other targets delayed the attacks to 1730-1755hrs. This meant that the aircraft would be returning to their bases after dark. Neither 390BG or 385BG were able to find alternate targets and did not bomb. 93 aircraft were effective on the alternate targets. 4 aircraft are MIA; 12KIA 20POW 8RTD (Rescued by ASR). In addition, 3 other aircraft made crash landings in England 11KIA 5WIA also (1 B-17F 42-30601 "Mary Ellen II", 385BG/had a mid-air collision (10KIA) with B-17F 42-30201, 95BG (RTB)), another 4 airmen were Wounded in Action (WIA) in returning aircraft. The bomber gunners in this element claim 22-3-8 of attacking German fighters.
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Despatch from 390th Bomb Group and 385th Bomb Group had no aircraft effective on the target.
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
| Tonnage dropped | 52.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 21 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 21 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 7 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 20 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
HARBOUR INSTALLATION
B-17 Flying Fortress
The bomber gunner claims for the combined force of B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division has been included under this target.
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 179.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 127 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 72 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 10 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 22 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 8 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
| Tonnage dropped | 151.00 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 14 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 5 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 9 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 13 |
HARBOUR INSTALLATION
B-17 Flying Fortress
1 B-17 drops 12 X500GP on a convoy - no hits. Two Missing in Action (MIA) aircraft from 379th Bomb Group were hit by aerial bombs dropped by enemy aircraft. Bomber gunner claims for both formations attacking targets at Nantes are included in the statisics for this target.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
| Tonnage dropped | 233.96 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 96 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 79 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 7 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 47 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 24 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
| Number of people Evaded | 16 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 19 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 22 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 5 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
| Tonnage dropped | 151.04 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 51 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 51 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
Tail gunner, Loftin crew. 381st BG, 534th BS. Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29958 'Battlin' Bombsprayer'. Mission #37 to the Arado Aircraft components at Anklam, Germany. MACR 886. Killed in Action (KIA). Buried in the Ardennes AMC.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Killed on mission in returning from mission to Bordeaux and La Pallice on B-17 #42-5906 'Sondra Kay'. Rain squalls dispersed the 388th BG. AC crashed at Pembridge south of RAF Shobdon.
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down 16 September 1943 in B-17 #42-5849 'Hell's Belles II. Missing Air Crew Report #722. 'Prisoner of War (POW). Was in Stalag Luft 17B
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3310 'Blood, Guts and Rust'. Plane ditched into Mediterranean Sea. Returned to base.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 381st Bomb Group
Navigator, Loftin crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29958 'Battlin' Bombsprayer'. Mission #37 to the Arado Aircraft components at Anklam, Germany. MACR 886. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III and Stalag XIIID.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 379th Bomb Group
Shot down 16 September 1943 in B-17 #42-29893. Evaded.
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-31084, Killed in Action (KIA).
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #4230876. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot; Commanding Officer | 100th Bomb Group
Career Officer in the USAF.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Brookley 3/3/43; Morrison 9/3/43; Assigned Harris Prov. Gp, en route from Marrakech to St Eval, Cornwall, UK 7/4/43 force landed Lytchett Minster, near Poole, Dorset, low on gas with Talmadge Wilson, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/2/43; Gore 4/3/43; Souix City 18/3/43; Kearney 9/4/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-B] Kimbolton 23/4/43. Missing in Action Nantes 16 September 1943 with Pilot Elton Hoyt III, Co-pilot: Norman C. Schroeder, Navigator:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/43; Sioux City 16/3/43; Kearney 8/4/43; Dow Fd 22/4/43; Assigned 524BS/379BG [WA-Q] Kimbolton 24/4/43; Missing in Action Nantes 16/9/43 with Floyd H. Jamerson - Pilot, and Radio Operator -John F. Paznar both Killed in Action;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 17/3/43; Pueblo 8/4/43; Smoky Hill 7/5/43; Dow Fd 21/5/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-J] Ridgewell 24/5/43 with Alan Tucker, Earl Muchway, Dave Harris, Dick Rylands, Chas Raglin, Bill Savage, Jim Klingenberger, John Willdredge, Grover...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/4/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG as BATTLE WAGON but not to UK; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-J] 29/5/43; Returned to the USA 13/7/43; 4100 BU Patterson 31/7/43; 4000 BU Patterson 5/12/43...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 23/5/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG [BK-F] Grafton Underwood 29/5/43; transferred 2 SAD Lt Staughton 31/7/43 then 560BS/388BG.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/5/43; Assigned to the 547BS/384BG [S0-G] Grafton Underwood 24/5/43, then the 546BS [BK-G]; Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Maj Maurice Stanley Dillingham, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Gore 9/5/43; Sioux City 10/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 1/6/43; crashed on take off for Bremen after encountering mechanical problems 13/11/43 with Bob Simons, Co-pilot: Alvin...
Crash site
Crash site
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 26 June 2015 18:14:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims for 3rd Bomb DIvision formations to the La Pallice statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 June 2015 18:08:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added bomber gunner claims for the entire Nantes attack to the statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 June 2015 18:04:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Jun-2015. Added Mission description basedon "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:18 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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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