Official description
VIII BC attacks U-boat base at Saint-Nazaire from reduced altitude. 12 B-24’s at 17,500 to 18,300 ft suffer little AA damage, but 31 B-17’s at 7,500 to 10,000 ft lose 3 of their number and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends experiment with low-level attacks of HBs against submarine bases.
Description
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the target of this mission conducted by a combined force of 33 B-17s from 91BG and 306BG together with a combined force of 14 B-24s from 44BG and 93BG. The B-24 formation bombs from altitudes between 17,500 ft. to 18,300 ft. The B-17 formation are ordered to bomb from altitudes between 7,500 ft. to 10,000 ft. in hopes of increasing bombing accuracy and concentration on the target. The B-17 formation is pounded by anti-aircraft fire with three aircraft lost and another 22 taking damage. This is the last time heavy bombers will attempt low-level approaches.
Mission details
1. SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
The B-17s try to attack from a low altitude (7,500 to 10,000 feet), lose 3 and have 22 damaged by AA fire. This ends the experiment with low-level attacks by heavy bombers against submarine pens. There is no fighter escort for this mission.
Units
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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,...
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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...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
68.50 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
33 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
31 |
Number of aircraft Missing In Action |
3 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
22 |
Number of people Killed In Action |
23 |
Number of people Prisoners of War |
8 |
2. SAINT-NAZAIRE
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-24 Liberator
Notes
The B-24s attack from 17,500 to 18,000 feet and only one suffers AA damage.
Units
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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...
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Group
93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1-March-1942 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15-May-1942 the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida to continue advanced flight training and also to fly anti-submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; they...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
45.00 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
14 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
12 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
1 |
Service
People
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS with crew at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage".
...
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Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He reported to group in June 1942. On 9-October-1942 his aircraft sustained major a/c damage on landing upon returning from a mission to Lille, France.
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Tail Gunner. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24491 while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Plane crashed 5 miles north-west of St. Nazaire, France. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24491 while serving as Tail Gunner Plane crashed 5 miles north-west of St. Nazaire, France. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He was an original crew member of the group. He flew on Ralph Gaston crew. On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494.
...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24509 'Miss Swoose' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Aircraft shot down by AA fire and crashed into the sea near the target St. Nazaire, France . Prisoner of War (POW).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He flew on John Barnett crew. He was considered one of the original crew members of the group.
...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Bombardier. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24486 'Man O' War' assigned 306BG/367BS Westover 17-August-42; Thurleigh 13-October-1942; Missing in Action on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St Nazaire, France. 9-Nov-1942. Hit by flak KO’d #2, with two others damaged, crashed into the...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 423BS/306BG Westover 15 August 194. Based at Thurleigh 13 October 1942. Missing in Action on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St Nazaire, France 9 November 1942. 6KIA 3POW 1EVD. MACR 6012.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 423BS/306BG Westover 15-August-1942, B-17F 41-24509, 'Miss Swoose' was damaged by AA fire between the Initial Point (IP) and the target which resulted in a fire on #3 engine during mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France on 9...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to 306BG/367BS at Westover 16-Aug-1942; Thurleigh 13-October-1942. 9-Nov-42 despatched on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France it was damaged by flak. Upon return it landed at Portreath, over-ran the runway, overran a dirt...