8th Air Force 205
2 February 1944Description
V-Weapon sites in the St. Pol/Siracourt/Watten area of France are the primary targets for this mission. 110 B-24s are despacthed from 2nd Air Division: 44BG; 93BG; 389BG; 392BG; and 445BG. The lead group of the force despatched to attack near Watten had to take evasive action to avoid collision with the second group which had turned to early at the Initial Point (IP) and was forced to make a second approach on the target. 95 aircraft were effective on a target. 2 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) - 19KIA - both down in the Norht Sea. 1 aircraft was Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) when it Crashed into the ground upon return at Butts Brow, Willingdon, Sussex apparently from a pilot error while descending to a lower altitude - 10KOM. 2 other returning aircraft sustained battle damage. There were no other casualties and there were no claims upon enemy aircraft made by the bomber gunners.
Mission Details
Siracourt, France / Watten, France / Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, France
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: The lead group assigned to attack Watten had to make a second run because the second group turned inside them at the Initial Point (IP) and were approaching the target on a collision course. NOTE: 10 airmen were Killed on Mission (KOM) when their aircraft crashed into the ground upon return - this total has been included in the KIA statistics.
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 314.50
- People killed in action: 29
- Aircraft sent: 110
- Aircraft effective: 95
- Aircraft missing in action: 2
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- 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: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-682220
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37263649
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13074162
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016. Added St.Pol and corrected statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016. Added Mission Description 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'.