8th Air Force 183
14 January 1944
Timothy Motz, from Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41056
Object Number - UPL 44035 - 8th Air Force mission 183; V-1 launching site; January 14, 1944. 447th Bomb Group strike photo
Description
This mission is a combined effort of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions to attack V-Weapon sites near the French coast near Pas-de-Calaise. Some targets of opportunity were also bombed. A total of 20 out of 21 V-Weapon sites are hit with varying results.
1st Bomb Division: A combined force of 176 B-17s are despatched from: 91BG; 92BG; 303BG; 305BG; 306BG; 351BG; 379BG; 384BG and 401BG. 169 aircraft are effective on V-Weapon targets. 2 aircraft Failed to Return - 20POW 1EVD. 64 aircraft are damaged, mainly from AA-fire. 1 airman aboard a returninbg aircraft was KIA and 10 others were wounded. German fighter resistance was light and the bomber gunners in this element had no claims on enemy aircraft.
3rd Bomb Division: A combined force of 198 B-17s are despatched from: 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG390BG and 447BG. 187 aircraft are effective on a target. There are no aircraft or personnel losses in this element although 2 aircraft are damaged. German fighter resistance was light and the bomber gunners in this element had no claims on enemy aircraft.
2nd Bomb Division: A combined force of 178 B-24s are despatched from: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; 445BG; and 448BG. 175 are effective on a target, of these 19 drop on targets of opportunity. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 8KIA 2POW. One other aircraft sustaining battle damage crashlanded at its Station, but in depth research by Stan Bishop was not able to identify the tail number of this aircraft. It is assumed that all 10 airmen were OK and Returned to Duty (RTD). 1 airman in a returning aircraft was WIA. The bomber gunners in this element claimed 8-0-1 of attacking German fighters.
Mission Details
Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Notes: 19 B-24s hit targets of opportunity.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 55.58
- Aircraft effective: 19
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 198 B-17s from 3rd Bomb Division are despatched to attack V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calais area, 20 of 21 V-Weapon sites are attacked.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 546.98
- Aircraft sent: 198
- Aircraft effective: 187
- Aircraft damaged: 2
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 176 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division are despatched to attack V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calais area, 20 of 21 V-Weapon sites are attacked.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 494.33
- People wounded in action: 10
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 20
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 176
- Aircraft effective: 169
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 64
PAS DE CALAIS (Primary)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: 178B-24s from 2nd Bomb Division are despatched to hit V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calais area.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 456.77
- People killed in action: 8
- People wounded in action: 1
- Prisoners of war: 2
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 8
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 178
- Aircraft effective: 156
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 9
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34393652
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14161785
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32517860
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809350
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-751963
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Irish Luck
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Maggie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hells Belles
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 447th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Winged Fury
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Added bomber gunner claims of 2nd BD to statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 7-Jan-2016. Edited title and added Mission Description per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. Casualties verified from US National Archives Records Administration Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) .
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'.