5 March 1944
42-100414 flight crew after crash landing in La Croix-Comtesse, France
Certificate showing the 33 Missions completed by Capt. William M. Bryan Jr of the 93rd Bomb Group
390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron, CREW 70 . Personnel Log entry from my uncles journey ,
Not yet known
The German airfields at Mont-de-Marsan, Cayeux and Bordeaux/Merginac, France were the primary targets for this mission. Weather and clouds frustrate bombing attempts and formations bomb other secondary targets and targets of last resort. Mission Summary follows:
2nd Air Division: A combined force of 219 B-24s from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; 446BG; 453BG; and 458BG are despatched. 63 are effective on the German airfields at Bergerac, France (Secondary); 60 are effective on the German airfield Cognac/Chateau-Bernard, France (Last Resort); 41 are effective on the German airfield at Landes-de-Bussac, France (Secondary an Last Resort); and 1 bombs the German airfield at La Roche, France. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 4KIA 4POW(1 DIC) 8EVD 6RTD (rescued by ASR). 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash on take off - 11RTD. 23 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman aboard a returning aircraft is WIA. The bomber gunners claim 14-2-5 of attacking German aircraft. There are no other losses or casualties.
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined exactly which 2nd Bomb Division Groups bombed this target so the entire 2nd Air Division participating units are included here as well as the bomber gunner claims.
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
Group
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group allocated B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 series fitted with a nose turret on the production line. The adaptation increased...
Group
The 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory...
Group
The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the...
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Group
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne...
Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged...
Group
The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...
| Tonnage dropped | 148.18 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 62 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 62 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 13 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 5 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
Not yet known
| Number of aircraft Effective | 0 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
Not yet known
| Number of aircraft Effective | 0 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which 2nd Bomb Division Groups bombed this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 143.40 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 60 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 60 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which 2nd Bomb Division aircraft bombed this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 2.39 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 1 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
It has not been determined which 2nd Bomb Division Groups bombed this target.
| Tonnage dropped | 98.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 41 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 41 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
Bad weather forces mission to change targets and many abort. These raids on Luftwaffe airfields are the beginnings of assuring that the Allies will have air supremacy for the D-Day invasion. Groups participating are those in 2nd Bomb Division.
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
Group
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group allocated B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 series fitted with a nose turret on the production line. The adaptation increased...
Group
The 445th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Tibenham, Norfolk. The crews' first mission was bombing U-boat installations at Kiel on 13 December 1943. The Group continued to hit strategic targets in Germany, including the aircraft components factory...
Group
The 448th Bombardment Group was organized on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May 1943 at Gowen Field, near Boise, Idaho. The initial training of the air crews took place in Florida. The entire group was assembled Wendover Field, Utah. Both air and...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Group
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne...
Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged...
Group
The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 55 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 4 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 2 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 4 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 1 |
| Number of people Evaded | 8 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 4 |
| Number of people Died in Captivity | 1 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 17 |
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Crew 302-514: Aerial Armorer Gunner; Tail Gunner; Ball Turret Gunner | 446th Bomb Group
Military | Captain | Navigator, bombardier, nose gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 448th Bomb Group
Alfred E. Cannon was born 25 Feb 1919 in Jamaica, New York. He enlisted 08 Apr 1942 and attended Basic Training at Cochran Field, Macon, Georgia. After completion of Basic Training in Dec 1942, he was transferred to Navigation Pre-flight training at...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 448th Bomb Group
S/Sgt. Gerald Carroll was born 24 Sep 1921 in Silver Bow, Montana. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps 08 Aug 1941. In Apr 1943 he became the Top Turret Gunner and First Engineer in the initial formation of Crew 11, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner, Second Engineer | 448th Bomb Group
S/Sgt. Norbert Mike Duginske was born in Merrill, Wisconsin 01 Jan 1920. He enlisted 11 Feb 1941 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Apr 1943 he became the Waist Gunner and Second Engineer in the initial formation of Crew 11, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner, Third Engineer | 448th Bomb Group
S/Sgt. Raymond G. Giwojna was born 11-Ap-23. He enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 30-Oct-42. In Apr 1943 he became the Tail Gunner and Third Engineer in the initial formation of Crew 11, 712th Bomb Squadron, 448th Bomb Group at Gowen Field, Idaho. In...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier/Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Charles ("Shep") Gordon flew 17 missions as a navigator and 18 as a bombardier with the 44th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Shipdham, England.
...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 448th Bomb Group
Paul R. Helander was born in Chicago, Illinois in on 27 Jul 1919. He entered enlisted service in May 1941 in the US Army Medical Corp. He attended basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Illinois but soon after he was transferred to the US Army Air...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
James Keeffe Jr.'s biography and time in service is the subject of the book “Two Gold Coins and a Prayer” written by James H. Keeffe III, his son. It is available from a number of book outlets.
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Shot down by flak on the return from a mission to Erkner, Berlin on 8 Mar 1944 in B-24J #42-100375. Prisoner of War (POW).
...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24H, 41-28711, named, Little Sheppard, was assigned to the 712th Bomb Squadron, the 448th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force in the U.K.
...
Crash site
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 February 2016 19:16:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Feb-2016. Added statistics to Bergerac element based on "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy" and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 February 2016 19:10:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:11 | 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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