Official description
24 HBs strike U-boat works at Saint-Nazaire
Description
The U-Boat pens of La Pallice, France are the Primary(P) target for a combined bomber force of 21 B-17s from 91BG (14) and 306BG (7); 93BG also joins the raid with 13 B-24s. However, La Pallice is completely clouded over, so instead, the bombers attack the Secondary (S) target of the port area of St. Nazaire, France. 44BG despatches 6 B-24 on a diversion.
Mission details
1.
Description
DIVERSION
Aircraft type
B-24 Liberator
Notes
Diversion for La Pallice. St. Nazaire raid.
Units
-
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...
Mission Statistics
Number of aircraft Sent |
6 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
6 |
2. LA PALLICE (Primary)
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
The primary target at La Pallice had a 10/10 cloud cover and all aircraft diverted to St. Nazaire.
Units
-
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,...
-
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
-
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
Number of aircraft Sent |
34 |
Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair |
1 |
3. SAINT-NAZAIRE (Secondary)
Description
U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft type
B-24 Liberator
Notes
Bombs have little or no effect on submarine pens. There is no fighter escort for this mission.
Units
-
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,...
-
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
-
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 |
57 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
34 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
24 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
2 |
Service
People
-
Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
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Military | Captain | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Flew on John L. Ryan crew. From Sept 1942 until 6 March 1943. Shot down 6 March 1943 over Lorient, France in B-17F 42-5130 'Sweet Pea', 306BG/367BS while serving as Navigator Baled out and taken Prisoner of War (POW). Had flown 12 1/2 missions. His...
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Yurri was an instructor on B-17's at McDill before joining the 91st at Bassingbourn. On the Lorient raid 30th December 1942 in Ll'LAUDREY, the pilots' compartment caught a 20mm shell
...