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3 January 1943
B-17 # 41-24470 going down on the 3 January 1943 mission to Saint-Nazaire. From page 51 of the wartime British Edition of “Target Germany” – 1944. The illustration accompanied the text about the mission and the 41-24470 crew’s fate.
Not yet known
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in a structure 300 meters long, 130 meters wide and 18 meters high composed of 480,000 cubic meters of concrete. The roof of the structure alone is 8 meters thick built with four layers: (top to bottom) 3.5 meters reinforced concrete; 35cm of granite/concrete; 1.7 meter thick reinforced concrete; and the "Fangrost" layer of steel beams 1.4 meters thick. The roof bristles with anti-aircraft weapons.
The mission is comprised of two elements: 72 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (16); 303BG (17); 305BG (22) and 306BG (17). The element is organised in the 'stagger' formation designed by Colonel Curtis LeMay, CO 305BG which will become adopted by all 8AF heavy bomber units and become the standard formation for the remainder of the war. This is the first such use of the formation. 60 aircraft of this formation are effective on the target; 7 are MIA and 44 are damaged.
The second element of the mission is comprised of 13 B-24s despatched by 44th Bomb Group. 8 are effective on the target; 3 are DBR and 3 are damaged. Both formations are carrying bomb loads of 1000 lb. General Purpose bombs.
U-BOAT PENS
B-17 Flying Fortress
305th Bomb Group uses stagger formation during bomb run. This is the first use of formation bombing by 8th Air Force. There is no fighter escort for this mission.
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
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 147.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 72 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 60 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 7 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 44 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 58 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 12 |
| Number of people Evaded | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 11 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 14 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 18 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 4 |
U-BOAT PENS
B-24 Liberator
44th Bomb Group suffered casualties in 3 aircraft which crash landed due to fuel shortage on their return at Dale and Talbenny airfields
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 | 11.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 13 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 8 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 0 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 3 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 17 |
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS with crew at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage".
...
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
15-Jul-42 Assigned as Navigator on B-17F 42-2967 [PU-G] "Shak Hak", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Shak Hak"
...
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 | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942, on first mission, B-17F #41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie" 91BG/323BS suffered severe damage on the mission to bomb the German airfield Abbeville/Drucat but plane returned with all crew and was salvaged. He was serving as Pilot on that...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Killed in Action on 3 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24501 while serving as Tail Gunner. Aircraft had two engines shot out by flak over the target, the U/B (submarine) base at St. Nazaire, France. Pilot Ferguson flew the severely damaged plane out to sea but...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On 3 January 1943 in B-24D 41-23771 while serving as Navigator the aircraft made a crash-landing near Puncheston, Pembrokeshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was uninjured and Returned to Duty (RTD)
...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
06-Mar-42 Assigned as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 [PU-C] "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer"
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942, on first mission, B-17F #41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie" 91BG/323BS suffered severe damage on the mission to bomb the German airfield Abbeville/Drucat but plane returned with all crew and was salvaged. He was serving as Radio Operator on...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Feb-42 Assigned to 303BG as an Aerial Gunner at Arrived at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 12-Jun-42 Trained at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo New Mexico. 7-Aug-42 Finished Advanced training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 24-Aug-42 transferred with Ground...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Mar-42 Assigned to 303BG/360BS in B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soldier" as 2LT and Co-Pilot. Gowen Field (Boise), Idaho.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24470, assigned 369BS/306BG [WW- ] Westover 22-Aug-42; damaged in taxi accident Westover Fd 26-Aug-42; Thurleigh 2-Oct-42; Missing in Action St Nazaire 3-Jan-43. Severely hit by enemy aircraft, ditched into the English Channel off Brest...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24501 assigned 368BS/306BG [BO- ] Westover 28-Aug-42; Thurleigh 2-Oct-42; Missing in Action St Nazaire 3-Jan-43, hit by flak, lost two engines, crashed near Le Croisic, France. 4KIA 6POW MACR 15627.
...
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 41-24526 "Leapin Liz". Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-J] Bangor 19-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action St Nazaire 3-Jan-43, shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed off St Brevin, Bay of Biscay, France. 10KIA Missing Air Crew Report (MACR)...
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 41-24579 "Thumper" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] 17-Feb-42 Gowen Field, Idaho; Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Aircraft damaged by AA fire and enemy fighters on mission to Lorient, France on 23-Jan-43. 11 man crew. Belly-landed at...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F #41-24603 "Green Hornet" [BN-Y], 303BG/359BS was assigned with a combat crew on 10-Sep-42 at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas then moved to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine 9-Oct-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-27-BO 41-24606 "Werewolf" was assigned 358BG/303BG [VK-H] Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 14-Sep-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK 16-Oct-42.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24608 [BN-S] "Yehoodi", 303BG/359BS was assigned with a crew on 10-Jul-42 at Alamogordo Field, Alamgordo, New Mexico, The aircraft was the first of the 303rd to arrive at Moleworth on 12-Oct-42. Participated in 5 Operations (3 Aborted). See...
Crash site
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 February 2015 19:50:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on 91BG-306BG on St Nazaire per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 December 2014 09:49:38 | Emily | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary, p. 32 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 December 2014 22:21:29 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Dec-2014. Edited map location. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 December 2014 22:18:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Dec-2014. Edited map location. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 December 2014 22:13:14 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 8-Dc-2014. U-Boat pen construction details per Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Nazaire_submarine_base; Aircraft participation based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman and "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop. |
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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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