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24 August 1943
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. B-17F (KY-G, serial number 41-24592) nicknamed "Madame Betterfly" is visible in the foreground. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publciation 26 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '280694.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.
Mission 86 Report, a/c 41-24560
Not yet known
The 8th Air Force is intent on dishing out some "pay back" to the Luftwaffe for the toll it took on bombers of the 17-Aug-43 mission to Schweinfurt/Regensburg. So, This mission has three attack elements and a diversion element. The attack elements are all directed at German airfields in France, one of which is an air depot. There are attacks in the late morning and late afternoon.
The first element is composed of 85 B-17s of the 17-Aug-43 Regensburg element that landed at bases in North Africa. The target is the German airfield of Bordeaux/Merignac, France. The Groups participating are: 94BG (17); 95BG (8); 96BG (15); 100BG (6); 385BG (13); 388BG (16); and 390BG (10). 9 aircraft had mechanical difficulties and returned to North Africa, and the 385BG formation of 13 did not attack. 58 of the 85 are effective on the target. These attacked between 1157hrs and 1200 hrs. 3 aircraft are MIA - 5KIA 3POW 6EVD 6RTD (rescued by ASR). 2 aircraft are listed as Category E losses (Damaged Beyond Repair-DBR) but one of these was a ground accident prior to take-off from Telergma when someone in the crew retracted the landing gear while the aircraft was on the hardstand. The other DBR ran out of gas while in the landing pattern at Knettishall and the pilot was forced to make a crashlandind in a nearby field. The crew were all OK. The bomber gunners of this element claimed 3-3-10 of attacking fighters.
The second attacking element was a force of 110 B-17s from: 91BG (14); 92BG (19); 305BG (18); 306BG (18); 351BG (22); 379BG (12); and 381BG (7) despatched to bomb the large German air depot at Villacoublay, France. 86 aircraft are effective on the target between 1800hrs - 1805hrs. Weather prevented 91BG from dropping. There are no losses in this element but 64 are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 1-0-1 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The third element is a formation of 42 B-17s from: 94BG (6); 95BG (7); 96BG (3); 100BG (7); 385BG (6); 388BG (6); and 390BG (7) despatched to bomb the German airfields at Conches, France and at Evereux/Fauville, France. Weather hampers bombing: none of the aircraft despatched from 94BG, 385BG and 388BG are able to bomb because of cloud cover. 22 of the 42 despatched manage to bombe the target. 1 B-17 is MIA because of a mechanical failure and is ditched into the English Channel - 1KIA 9RTD (rescued by ASR). The bomber gunners calim 0-0-2 of attacking enemy aircraft.
A force of 36 B-17s from 303BG (18); 379BG (6); and 384BG (36) are despatched to fly a diversion for the elements attacking at Villacoublay and Chonches. One aircraft aborts. There are no losses or claims.
DIVERSION
B-17 Flying Fortress
Diversion for Villacoublay raid.
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 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 36 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 35 |
AIRFIELDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
85 B-17s from Africa join raid, these landed there after Regensburg raid. 9 returned to African bases. 385th Bomb Group despatch was not effective in bombing the target.
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 141.75 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 85 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 58 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 3 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged Beyond Repair | 2 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 40 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 4 |
| Number of people Evaded | 6 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 3 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 26 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 3 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 10 |
AIRFIELDS
B-17 Flying Fortress
94th Bomb Group 385th Bomb Group and 390th Bomb Group despatch are unable to effectively hit the target.
Group
"The Bloody Hundredth", so-called because of a reputation for losing a high number aircraft and crews, flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. Their losses were not the highest of any Eighth Air Force Group but on several occasions the Group lost many...
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Group
Activated 15 June 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. Initial organization and training at Pendleton Field, Oregon on 29 June 1942. Primary flight training at Davis-Monthan Field in Arizona from 28 Aug. 42 to 31 Oct. 42; then at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas...
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August...
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 248.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 42 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 22 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 15 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 2 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 9 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 9 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 2 |
AIR DEPOT
B-17 Flying Fortress
91st Bomb Group despatch unable to effectively hit the target
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 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Group
The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...
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...
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
| Tonnage dropped | 257.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 110 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 86 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 64 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 1 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 1 |
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-31084, Killed in Action (KIA).
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Air Gunner, Togglier/Bombardier | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 26 November 1943 in B-17 #42-30832, Prisoner of War (POW). He was a POW from 26 Nov 1943 to 04 May 1945 at Stalag 17B, Krems, Austria. Prisoner of War (POW) no. 100388.
POW
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. ETD.
Awards: DSC, AM (3 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.
Post war: Remained in USAF, serving in Korean conflict.
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1118
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 368BS/306BG [BO-D] New Castle 4/10/42; Thurleigh 26/10/42; transferred 369BS [WW- ]; transferred 544BS/384BG [SU-A] Grafton Underwood 5/9/43; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 15/3/44; Returned to the USA Homestead 14/5/44; Reconstruction Finance...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-P] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42; Missing in Action 45m Oschersleben 11/1/44 with George McClellan, Co-pilot: Bill Fisher, ex B-26 pilot on his 1st mission, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Tempesta, Radio Operator...
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
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War)...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 14/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; transferred Aphrodite project, Missing in Action V-sites, Watten 6/8/44 with Lt Joeseph P Andrecheck & T/Sgt Raymond Healy (2...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Gore 9/5/43; Sioux City 10/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 1/6/43; crashed on take off for Bremen after encountering mechanical problems 13/11/43 with Bob Simons, Co-pilot: Alvin...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Plane Mischief Maker II entered combat approximately Jun43 under command of Capt V.L. Iverson after the original Mischief Maker was damaged beyond repair. After this crew completed 25 missions Maj. Iverson was retained for HQ USSTAF, the crew...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/6/43; Smoky Hill 13/7/43; Kearney 16/7/43; Dow Fd 19/7/43; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall 20/7/43; (34m) transferred Aphrodite project as OLIN'S 69'ERS; when War Weary, fuselage cut down and vehicle windshield fitted before open...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May 2017 12:34:52 | ThomBear | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Added a/c 41-24560, per post-mission report. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 May 2015 21:04:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Villacoublay element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 May 2015 21:02:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Conches element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 May 2015 21:01:22 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Bordeaux element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 May 2015 20:58:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2014 11:31:40 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated Media based on images associated with missions in Freeman, The Mighty Eighth War Diary. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:18 | 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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