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20 December 1942
72 HBs attack air de pot at Romilly-sur-Seine in effective raid. 6 bmrs are lost to ftrs.
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
Also, 44BG despatches 21 B-24s to the German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. 12 are effective on the target with no losses. 1 damaged.
AIR DEPOT
B-17 Flying Fortress
No fighter escort on this mission. 2LT Conrad Farr, Bombardier Killed in Action (KIA) 306th Bomb Group on B-17 serial number 41-24498.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 141.28 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 80 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 60 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 7 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 29 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 32 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 12 |
| Number of people Evaded | 3 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 24 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 20 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 51 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 13 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 8 |
AIR DEPOT
B-24 Liberator
Not yet known
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 24.22 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 21 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 12 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 1 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Fighter Command | 2 |
Military | Captain | Lead Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
17-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth UK. He was despatched on 26 Operations - 25 credited. Served as a Lead Navigator on 23 of those missions. Completed a 25-Mission...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17 41-24452 while serving as Bombardier. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17 41-24566 'Zombie', 303BG/359BS while serving as Radio Operator on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15593. Participated in 4 Operations (1 was aborted)....
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17 41-24432 'Danellen' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA). Shot down by Major 'Pips' Piller, JG26. Crashed in Bernieres-Tosny, France. First American aircraft to crash in Normandy. Parts...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17 41-24432 'Danellen' while serving as Waist Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Captain | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Crash landed in B-17F 41-24439 'Chief Sly’ while serving as Pilot on return from target Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Co-pilot was 2nd Lt. Arthur J. Reynolds. Aircraft was DBR and salvaged. No injuries reported in crash.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
On 23 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24580 'Hell Cat', 303BG/358BS while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft was downed by fighters near Brest. He was able to parachute to safety and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW). Participated in 7 Operations -...
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17 41-24489 'Terry and the Pirates' while serving as Waist Gunner. Listed as Prisoner of War (POW).
He stayed in USAF for a total 22 years. He died 1st March 1998 in Fall River MA.
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with the rank of Sergeant. 303BG personnel record does not indicate that he was assigned to any particular crew at that time and does not indicate when he arrived at...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 20 December 1942 in B-17F 41-24489 'Terry and the Pirates' while serving as Navigator. Killed in Action (KIA).
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24432 was assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-F] Denver Aug 42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42; Missing in Action Romilly-sur-Seine 11m 20-Dec-42 (9-man crew) 8KIA 1 POW MACR 5381.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24439 'Chief Sly' was delivered Dow Fd 2-Sep-42; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-Q] 6-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 29-Sep-42; battle damaged 20-Dec-42 on mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Crash-landed Parsonage Farm,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24452 was assigned to 91BG/401BS at Bangor 29-Aug-42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42. Despatched on 20-Dec-42 to bomb the German air depot at Romilly, France. Enemy aircraft KO’d tailplane and the aircraft crashed near Rouen, France. 3KIA 7POW MACR...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24489 'Terry and the Pirates' was assigned 367BS/306BG Westover 17-Aug-42; Thurleigh 13-Oct-42; Missing in Action 20-Dec-42 on mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed near...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24495 'Rose O' Day' was assigned 367BS/306BG Westover 17-Aug-42; Thurleigh 13-Oct-42; Missing in Action 20-Dec- 42 while on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Creil, France...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24517 [GN-O] 'Kali' 303BG/427BS assigned with crew on 1-May-42 at Alamogordo Field, Almogordo, New Mexico. Sent with crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine for deployment 5-Oct-42. Arrived at Molesworth, UK 24-Oct-42
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;The aircraft participated in 12 Operations - 4 Aborted (See Biography events)
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-25-BO 41-24558 [VK:F] "Hunga Dunga" was assigned to the 358BS/303BG [VK-F] at Bangor. Maine on 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action Vegasack 18-Mar-43 when it was attacked by enemy aircraft near Helgoland. Germany...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24566 'Zombie' [BN-W] was assigned 303BG/359BS [BN-W] at Alamogordo Field, New Mexico on 23-Jun-42. Stationed at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan until 3-Oct-42 when it went to Bangor, Maine for deployment to England.; Molesworth 25-Oct...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 September 2019 14:03:35 | Emily | Changes to official description |
| Sources | ||
Air Force Combat Chronology NB the Air Force Combat Chronology wrongly states that this mission took place on 19 December 1942. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 February 2015 19:47:01 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on 91BG, 303BG, 305BG, 306BG Romilly per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 February 2015 19:45:40 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on 44BG Romilly per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 November 2014 21:11:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 11-Nov-2014. Description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop and "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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'. |
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