VIII Bomber Command 3

20 August 1942

Official Description

Principle of coordinated day and night bombing receive its first formal definition in ‘Joint British/American Directive on Day Bomber Operations involving Fighter Cooperation.’ Emphasis is placed on achieving continuity in bombing offensive from UK. 11 Heavy Bombers attack Longeau Marshalling Yard at Amiens, a vital point in the traffic flow between France and Germany.

Description

Bombers from 97BG are despatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens/Longeau, France. 12 Spitfires from 31st Fighter Group provide escort. 31st Fighter Group also despatches Spitfires on diversions and for an RAF Lysander on Air Sea Rescue (ASR) duties.

Mission Details

Description: FIGHTER DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: A diversion sweep.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 12

Description: FIGHTER DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: A diversion with RAF Defiants.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 12

Description: FIGHTER DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: Diversion

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 11

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: 12 Spitfires escort the bombers.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 12

Description: FIGHTER ESCORT

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

Notes: Escort for an RAF Lysander on Air Sea Rescue duties.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 2

AMIENS/ LONGEAU

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France are attacked.

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 23.00
  • Aircraft sent: 12
  • Aircraft effective: 11

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History,

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Oct-2014. Mission description based on "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop http://www.usaaf.net/chron/index.htm

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'.