VIII Bomber Command 40
6 March 1943Roger Freeman Photo.
Description
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a primary objective for American heavy bomber crews. On this date the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for the main formation of B-17s and in addition the harbour facilites at Brest, France become the primary target of for a formation of B-24s. The attack on Brest is considered a diversion for the main attack on Lorient.
71 B-17s are despatched to attack Lorient, France: 91BG (14); 303BG (18); 305BG (18), 306BG (21). 65 of these are effective on the target and 3 are MIA. The bomber gunners claim 7 enemy aircraft destroyed, 2 enemy aircraft probabaly destroyed; and 1 enemy aircraft damaged (7-2-1)
15 B-24s are despatched to attack the harbour facilities at Brest, France: 44BG (10) and 93BG (5) All 15 ar effective on the target and the bomber gunners claim 2-0-2 on enemy aircraft.
Mission Details
BREST (Primary)
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: This is a diversionary raid to assist the Lorient raid.
- 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: 44.50
- Aircraft sent: 15
- Aircraft effective: 15
- Aircraft damaged: 3
LORIENT (Primary)
Description: POWER PLANT, BRIDGE, PORT AREA
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: There is no fighter escort for this mission.
- 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: 162.50
- People killed in action: 6
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 22
- People returned to duty: 1
- Aircraft sent: 71
- Aircraft effective: 65
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 8
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-442766
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15068650
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14049756 / O-437941
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17032540
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13049248
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jersey Bounce
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess, Sure Stuff
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell's Angels
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Check
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 25-Dec-2014. Descriptions 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'.