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13 March 1944
Certificate showing the 33 Missions completed by Capt. William M. Bryan Jr of the 93rd Bomb Group
401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 36, 13th Mar 1944, Gorenflos, France
Not yet known
V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France are the targets for this mission. All three Air Divisions despatch aircraft but the weather is so terrible that most could not bomb a target. Mission Summary follows:
1st Air Division: A combined force of 85 B-17s from: 351BG; 379BG; 401BG; and 457BG are despatched. Only 7 aircraft are effective on a Target of Oppostunity (TO) at Poix, France. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 10KIA 10POW. 24 aircraft are damaged. 1 airman in a returning aircraft is WIA. There are no other losses, casualties or claims in this element.
3rd Air Division: 42 B-17s are despatched from 3rd AD Groups but weather prevents any from bombing and all are recalled. 37 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses casualties or claims in this element.
2nd Air Division: 144 B-24s from: 93BG; 389BG; 445BG; 446BG; 448BG; and 453BG are despatched but weather prevents any from bombing. 1 aircraft is Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) in a crash caused by Pilot enterin prop wash during assembly - 6KIA 4RTD (baled out). 13 aircraft are damaged. There are no other losses, casualties or claims.
V-1 MISSILE SITES
B-17 Flying Fortress
Primary targets were V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area, but cloud cover prevented all but 7 from bombing. No claims on enemy fighter by the bomber gunners.
457th BG MISSION NO. 12 - VAC-QUERIETTE, GERMANY
13 MARCH, 1944
The Group flew its first of many No Ball missions to the French Coast. The name No Ball identified the target as being the launching pad of the V-i flying bombs, which would be launched against England.
Twenty-one planes were dispatched. Captain Spencer was Air Commander and Lt. J. L. Smith, pilot. Heavy clouds prevented the bombing of the target. Some aircraft returned safely with their bomb load, while others bombed targets of opportunity. Damage was inflicted to eight aircraft by intense flak over the occupied territory of France near Abbeville. The field order for the mission was not received until 0445, and final mission data was not received until after the main briefing. Only the routes to and from the French Coast were set forth in the flight plan, leaving the course over France to the Wing and Group Commanders.
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
Group
The 457th Bomb Group began combat operations during the Big Week of 20-25 February when American bombers carried out concentrated raids against German aircraft bases, factories and assembly plants. The air crews' targets on that first mission were...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 120 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 61 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
It has not been determined which Group attacked this target.
Group
The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 21.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 7 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 7 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 10 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 10 |
AIRFIELD
B-24 Liberator
All Groups participating are part of 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 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
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 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 | 144 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Bill Trimble crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD). See the page with details about his evasion at...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. On 27-Jan-44, while taxiing after landing from a training flight, the landing gear switch of B-17 42-31414 was placed in the up position instead of the flap switch. RTD.
...
Military | Chief Master Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Bill Trimble crew.
Awards: DFC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Post war: Served in Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Shot down 8 April 1944 in B-24 #41-28650 'Rooster', Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME
Military | Staff Sergeant | Bombardier / L,R Waist Gunner, Nose Gunner / Togglier | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) in 42-31083; A/C exploded mid-air near Downham Market, England. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Poix, FR 13-Mar-44 in B-17G 42-39980; Shot down by coastal guns and crashed just off the French coast. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3240
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat mission. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 26 x combat missions. Flew in B-17 42-31083 'Tenny Belle' for most of his missions. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 448th Bomb Group
8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 20th Combat Wing, 448th BG, 712th BS
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 15/9/43;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/43; Gt Falls 28/9/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-K] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; Missing in Action Politz 7/10/44 with Tom Hill, Wilbur Schmedel, Theo Block, Junius Chadwick, Jim Mullins, Vic Shewbert, Ed Hellenbeck, Buddy Keith, Omer...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/43; Scott 21/10/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-O] Deenethorpe 4/11/43; Missing in Action Merseburg 11/9/44 with Milton Wingard, Co-pilot: Bob Abresch, Navigator: Bob Sullivan, Tail gunner: Ed Chiariello (4...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/32; Scott 25/10/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-B] Deenethorpe 30/10/43;
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 21/9/43; Gt Falls 14/10/43; Bowman 28/10/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IW-O] Deenethorpe 30/10/43; Missing in Action Berlin 29/4/44 with John Singleton, Co-pilot: Clarry Barsuk, Navigator: Jim Levey, Flight engineer/top turret gunner:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/10/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-B] Deenethorpe 14/1/44; Missing in Action Poix, Fr. 13/3/44 with George Hellmuth, Jim Hannon, Bob Wagner, Gordon Brandt, Francis Allen (5 Killed in Action); Ray Gipson, Jim Coventry, Jim Bailey,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 2/12/43; Kearney 17/12/43; Romulus 6/1/44; Kearney 7/1/44; Memphis 9/1/44; Presque Is 10/1/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-B] Deenethorpe 31/1/44; 134m crash landed Polebrook 22/4/44, Salvaged 1 SAD Troston. FANCY NANCY IV.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 6/1/44; Kearney 15/1/44; Romulus 23/1/44; Grenier 25/1/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Horham 2/2/44; transferred 412BS [QW-J]; 98m, with S.D. Reed, force landed RAF Coltishakk, 8RTD, 1WIA; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 21/6/44;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 12/1/44; Kearney 28/1/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-M] Deenethorpe 7/3/44; Missing in Action St Lo 24/7/44 with Ed Coleman, Navigator: H.E. Kron, Bombardier: E.K. Stout, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: A.T. Lindholm, Radio Operator:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 27/8/43; Scott 29/9/43; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-P] Kimbolton 19/10/43; Missing in Action Berlin 24/5/44 with Wilton Gease (Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Luciano Gastineau, Navigator: Bob Lorentz, Bombardier: Dick O’Neal, Flight engineer...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 23 February 2016 21:08:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Feb-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces:, Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 13:47:04 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Relocated site pin. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 13:45:58 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Relocated mission pin. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 May 2015 13:39:12 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Mission detail added courtesy of Diane Reese - http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Narratives/ma12.html |
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| 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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