VIII Bomber Command 19

14 November 1942

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

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Diversion for La Pallice. St. Nazaire raid.

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 6
  • Aircraft effective: 6

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.

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 34
  • Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1

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.

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 57
  • Aircraft sent: 34
  • Aircraft effective: 24
  • Aircraft damaged: 2

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: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36324682
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13028912 / O-789365
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437909
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14054504 / O-442691
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Nov-2014 St. Nazaire statistics "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Nov-2014. Despatch adjustment.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Nov-2014. Mission description edit.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Nov-2014 Mission details.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Nov-2014. Bomb Group associations made.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Nov-2014. 'USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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'.