VIII Bomber Command 83

16 August 1943
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane.  Four men standing to the rear and six men kneeling in front. UPL 65989 UPL 65989 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 28 July 1943/Kassel.
BACK L-R: Robert Kilmer (CP), John Barkley (N), Donald Ogilvie (P), William Wilson (B).
FRONT L-R: Francis Sylvia (FG), Emmett Hood (TT), Louis Ratkiewicz (TG), William Martin (FG), James Murray (RO), James McKeon (BT)
On

Object Number - UPL 65989 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 28 July 1943/Kassel. BACK L-R: Robert Kilmer (CP), John Barkley (N), Donald Ogilvie (P), William Wilson (B). FRONT...

Description

This mission consists of two elements of B-17s despatched to bomb the German airfields of Le Bourget (Paris), Poix and Abbeville, France. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (21); 92BG (17); 303BG (20); 305BG (20); 306BG (20); 351BG (21); 379BG (21); 381BG (20); and 384BG (20) are despatched to bomb at Paris/Le Bourget. 171 B-17s are effective on the target and the formations had fighter escort by P-47s to and from the target. 4 B-17s Failed to Return (FTR), and 46 are damaged. Casualties are: 6KIA 17POW 6WIA 8EVD. The bomber gunners claim 29-3-11 of attacking enemy aircraft. 

The second element is a combined formation of 66 B-17s from: 94BG (21); 96BG (24) and 388BG (21) despatched to bomb tw German airfields: one a Poix, France and the other at Abbeville, France. All 66 aircraft are effective but divide their bombs between Poix (65) and Abbeville (64). There are no losses or claims in this formation, although 36 aircraft sustain damage.

Mission Details

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 92nd Bomb Group despatch includes1 YB-40 gunship. This is the last use of the YB-40.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
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
The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 397.35
  • People killed in action: 6
  • People wounded in action: 6
  • People evaded: 8
  • Prisoners of war: 17
  • People returned to duty: 10
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 29
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 3
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 11
  • Aircraft sent: 179
  • Aircraft effective: 171
  • Aircraft missing in action: 4
  • Aircraft damaged: 46

/

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: These aircraft dropped half their load on Poix Air Field and the other half on Abbeville Ai Field

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 8.95
  • Aircraft sent: 66
  • Aircraft effective: 66
  • Aircraft damaged: 38

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Argentos, James 18108164 T/Sgt. 367th BS 306th BG Air Corps
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18108164
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665266
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793276
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane.  Four men standing to the rear and six men kneeling in front.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735966
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bad Check
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Crew of the Piccadilly Commando
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Piccadilly Commando
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stella
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fast Woman
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 508th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorRainer
Changes
Sources

Updated unit connections according to narrative

Date
ContributorRainer
Changes
Sources

Updated connections

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-May-2015. Added WIA count to Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman (cites 4WIA); and the 303BG Mission Report (cites 2 WIA) http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/059.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-May-2015. Corrected EVD statistic and added bomber gunner claims to Le Bouget element statisitics per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Roger A, Freeman. Corrected WIA statistic per 303BG Mission Report: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/059.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-May-2015. Added the Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty EIghth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.

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'.

VIII Bomber Command 83: Gallery (2 items)