460

8 July 1944
media-33802.jpeg UPL 33802 George F. Wilson Jr. First LT and Crew.

This may be a staged photo and not the correct aircraft. This is the correct crew. Looking for family members who can validate. I am a relative of the Pilot George Wilson. I would like to know where the plane went down and other stories.

Object Number - UPL 33802 - George F. Wilson Jr. First LT and Crew.

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 2 T

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 69.5 T

Description: HIGHWAY JUNCTION

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 28.9 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 26.2 T

Abbeville, France

Description: RAILROAD JUNCTIONS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 25.3 T

Description: RAILROAD JUNCTIONS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 49 T

Description: RAILROAD JUNCTIONS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 20 T

27190 Conches-en-Ouche, France

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 70 T

ETAPLES (Opportunistic)

Description: CHOKE POINT

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24 T

ETAPLES (Primary)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 74.2 T

Description: RAILROAD JUNCTIONS

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-17s is 94th Bomb Group, 95 Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 48.5 T

NANTES (Opportunistic)

Description: RAIL BRIDGE

Notes: The whole 8th Air Force heavy bombers were dispatched to attack tactical targets in the Paris area. The 45th A Combat Wing with the 388th Bomb Group "A" and "B", high and low respectively, was to have attacked a supply depot Northwest of Beaumont. Our 28 aircraft were airborne by 0351 hours. 1 aircraft from each formation aborted for mechanical reasons and 3 aircraft from the A Group returned early because of inability to locate the formation. Formations were effected with difficulty due to the hours of darkness, and the Combat Wing never did get together. The B Group followed by the A Group crossed the enemy Coast at the briefed point. Approximately 12 miles inside the French Coast the B Group encountered meager but extremely accurate flak from Cleres. The Group leader and his right wing man went down from this attack. Two other aircraft were so severely hit that they had to abort. The B Group reformed with the deputy lead taking over the lead. The primary target was completely cloud covered and was not attacked. The A Group attacked a railroad bridge over the Seine River at Nantes-Gassicourt. The B Group attacked railroad tracks in the vicinity of Yvetot. No enemy aircraft were seen. Meagre flak was encountered over the targets. The flak at Cleres which shot down two of our aircraft also caused major damage to 6 aircraft and minor damage to 5 others. Lt. J. Klein was killed by flak. The following were wounded by flak: Lt. J. Pakiz and S/Sgt. L. Myers, F. Serio and J. Hollister. 18 aircraft returned to base by 0855 hours. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger). ___________________________________________________________________________

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 26.3 T

NANTES/GASSICOURT (Opportunistic)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 31.5 T

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 22 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 4 T

PAS-DE-CALAIS (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG -MISSION NO. 84 -HAUT-MAISNIT BLANGERMONT, FRANCE -8 JULY, 1944 A return was made by the Eighth Air Force to tactical targets in northern France. Bridges, railroads and pilot-less aircraft launching sites were objects of attack. The 457th was required to attack two of these V-1 launching sites with two 12-plane boxes. One was located in the orchards of the small rural village of Haut-Maisnil, six miles distant from Hesdin. The other, similarly hidden in orchards, was five miles to the east. Both were the Belhamin type sites and had been spotted as being active in launching V-1's on London. The twenty-four plane formation required no wing assembly and each proceeded south to depart from the English Coast. Captain Dozier led the A box and Captain J. L. Smith the B box. The Channel was clear, but clouds were encountered as the French Coast was approached. These increased to ten-tenths over the two targets and no bombing could be accomplished. The A box then proceeded on the return route home. The B box flew around in the Abbeville area on various courses, looking for a target of opportunity. A break in the clouds was found over the Poix airdrome and bombs were released on this target. All the bombs fell on the field and across a runway in a concentrated pattern. The targets remained untouched. Sgt. Paul A. Birchen, whose action on the 14 June mission, earned him the award of the Silver Star, was flying as top turret gunner, flight engineer for Lt. George J. Bennett. Paul said, "They briefed us for three guns in the target area and the third one got me". The top turret was shattered and combat was over for Paul. He spent two months in hospitals in England and an additional twelve months in the States, before being discharged. Paul's Silver Star award caught up with him in the hospital in the States and was presented to him in a hospital ceremony.

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 110.9 T

PAS-DE-CALAIS (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of B-24s is 34th Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 181.0 T

Poix, France

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 148.6 T

ROUEN (Opportunistic)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 18 T

Description: BRIDGE

Notes: Only 486 of the bombers despatched are able to bomb due to weather. 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group,446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Group, 491st Bomb Group,492nd Bomb Group,

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 53 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 33.6 T

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 32 T

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 36 T

Description: RAILROAD TRACKS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24 T

BRIDGES NEAR AMIENS

Description: COULD NOT FIND TARGET

Notes: The 306th flew 24 aircraft as "E" and "F" forces. Rendezvous was as breifed, but clouds obscured the target. The formation turned north looking for a target of opportunity, but clouds obscured the whole area. All bombs were returned.

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft damaged: 1

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36215923 / O-692248
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18216616
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron 65th General Hospital
  • Service Numbers: 55619
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (4Z-V+) nicknamed "Wolves Inc." of the 791st Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '467th B.G., 4Z-V+.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rough Riders
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Down N Go
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spam-O-Liner
  • Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
Changes
Sources

Correction to pin location

Date
Changes
Sources

Correction to pin location

Date
Changes
Sources

Correction to pin location

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

396th Bomb Squadron Combat Diary, courtesy of Wayne Tolmachoff

Date
Changes
Sources

Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger).

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'.

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