VIII Bomber Command 89

2 September 1943
ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear, three men kneeling in front. Flying gear is laying in front of kneeling men UPL 66046 UPL 66046 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 2 September 1943/ 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 2 September 1943. Mission aborted at mid-channel.
Back L-R: Dennis Lane (BT), Roland Killin (FG), Aloysius Mizgorski (FG), John Ryberg (B), Leonard Nealis (TT). Front L-R: Jerome Beaupre (RO), Lt. Sidney Taylor (OBS/TG), James Kelly (CP), Capt. Raymond Ketelsen (P), Wilbourne Blount (N)

 The Quentin Bland Collection.  https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/35734/category/LeadCrews

546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group VIII Bomber Command 89 42-30033 Grafton Underwood Dennis J Lane Roland L Killin Aloysius W Mizgorski Jerome B Beaupre Sidney Taylor John E Ryberg Leonard Martin Eugene Nealis Wilbourne E Blount Raymond Paul Ketelsen James Henry Kelly On

Object Number - UPL 66046 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 2 September 1943/ 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 2 September 1943. Mission aborted at mid-channel. Back L-R: Dennis...

Description

This mission was composed of five elements. The first element was combined force 55 B-17s despatched from: 92BG; 305BG, and 306BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.



The second element is a formation of 57 B-17s despatched from: 91BG; 351BG; and 381BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.



The third element is a formation of 55 B-17s despatched from: 303BG; 379BG; and 384BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.



The fourth element is a formation of 66 B-17s despatched from: 95BG; 100BG; and 390BG 384BG to bomb German airfields in NW France. The mission is recalled due to weather and the bombers return without dropping bombs. There are no losses or claims.



The fifth element is a formationn of 66 B-17s from 94BG (21); 385BG (21); 96BG (21) and 388BG (23) despatched to bomb German airfields in NW. France. 94BG and 385BG are unable to bomb because of cloud cover. 18 aircraft from 96BG are able to bomb the German airfield of Mardyck as a target of opportunity and 23 aircraft are able to bomb the German airfield of Denain/Prouvy, France as a target of opportunity. There are no losses or claims but 2 B-17s are damaged and 2 airmen are wounded.



Mission Details

RECALLED

Description: AIRFIELDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Mission recalled because of cloud cover.

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.

95th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • Aircraft sent: 66

ABORTED

Description: AIRFIELDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Mission aborted at French coast due to heavy cloud cover. 3 separate elements of 3 each bomb groups were despatched.

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

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.

306th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • Aircraft sent: 96

DENAIN/PROUVY (Opportunistic)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 101.00
  • People wounded in action: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 44
  • Aircraft effective: 34
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

MARDYCK (Opportunistic)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: Mission recalled because of cloud cover.

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.

385th 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.'

94th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: None
  • Aircraft sent: 42
  • Aircraft damaged: 9

Connections

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

People

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'

Richard Harding Bailey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793713
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Charles A Bein

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37111609
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Edmond John Blais

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32478396
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro

Charles Cushman Bliss

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-52478
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Portrait of Gale Cleven, 100th Bomb Group

Gale Winston Cleven

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-399782
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-29651

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Stella
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

42-29699

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fifi | Old Battle Axe
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron

42-29768

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Winsome Winn II
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron

42-29814

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Dallas Rebel
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron

42-29828

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Short Stride : Loma Lee : TS
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 29-May-2015. Added 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 89: Gallery (1 items)

ten men in Air Force uniform posed in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear, three men kneeling in front. Flying gear is laying in front of kneeling men

Object number: UPL 66046 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 2 September 1943/...