VIII Bomber Command 89
2 September 1943
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
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.
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.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 96
DENAIN/PROUVY (Opportunistic)
Description: AIRFIELD
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
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.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 42
- Aircraft damaged: 9
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-739060
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss Fortune
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Patches : The Spotted Cow
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lucky Thirteen
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jolly Roger
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Barrel House Bessie
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 29-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.