VIII Bomber Command 40
6 March 1943Roger Freeman Photo.
Description
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a primary objective for American heavy bomber crews. On this date the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for the main formation of B-17s and in addition the harbour facilites at Brest, France become the primary target of for a formation of B-24s. The attack on Brest is considered a diversion for the main attack on Lorient.
71 B-17s are despatched to attack Lorient, France: 91BG (14); 303BG (18); 305BG (18), 306BG (21). 65 of these are effective on the target and 3 are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 7 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 enemy aircraft probabaly destroyed; and 1 enemy aircraft damaged (7-2-1)
15 B-24s are despatched to attack the harbour facilities at Brest, France: 44BG (10) and 93BG (5) All 15 ar effective on the target and the bomber gunners claim 2-0-2 on enemy aircraft.
Mission Details
BREST (Primary)
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: This is a diversionary raid to assist the Lorient raid.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 44.50
- Aircraft sent: 15
- Aircraft effective: 15
- Aircraft damaged: 3
LORIENT (Primary)
Description: POWER PLANT, BRIDGE, PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: There is no fighter escort for this mission.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 162.50
- People killed in action: 6
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 22
- People returned to duty: 1
- Aircraft sent: 71
- Aircraft effective: 65
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 8
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34211267
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18084492
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728188
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19075295 at enlistment, then O-664296
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Bomb Division 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-430990
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fast Woman : Fast Worker MK II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: FDR's Potato Peeler Kids
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss Bea Haven
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yardbird II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Descriptions based on 'The 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'.