3 September 1943
42-29914 BK-H, 384th Bombardment Group, 546th Bombardment Squadron
Mission 90 Report, a/c 41-24560
Douglas B-17F-65-DL Fortress Ser.# 42-3455 “Lucky 13” 8th Air Force 384th Bombardment Group 546th Bombardment Squadron Original Crew SSGT Herry Saperstein (Ball Turret) TSGT Oscar K. Hamblin (Top Turret/Engineer) SSGT James P. Morley (Waist Gunner) 2LT Richard J. Peirce (Navigator) 2LT Warren B. Holland (Co-Pilot) 2LT Jacques E. Riddel (Pilot) 2LT Harry A. Hawes (Bombardier) TSGT Charles L. Kirby, Jr. (Radio Operator) SSGT Edward F. Ruch (Waist Gunner) SSGT William H. Ross (Tail Gunner) Riddel was killed on 28 July 1943, flying as co-pilot on Sky Queen (42-30032). He was replaced by 1LT Russel R. Faulkiner.
Not yet known
German airfields in France and the Caudron-Renault works at Paris are the targets for this mission. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 168 B-17s from: 91BG (14); 351BG (19); 381BG (22); 92BG (19); 305BG (18); 306BG (18); 303BG (19); 379BG (21); and 384BG (18) despatched to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. 100 of the aircraft are effective on the target. 28 aircraft bomb the German airfield at St. Andre-de-L'Eure, France; and 12 aircraft bomb the German airfield at Evreux/Fauville, France as a target of opportunity. 4 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-4KIA 16POW 10EVD 10RTD (rescued by ASR) 55 aircraft are damaged and 2 airmen are Wounded in Action (WIA). The bomber gunners claim 11-1-0 of attacking enemy aircraft.
The second element is a formation of 65 B-17s from: 94BG (21); 96BG (21); and 388BG (23) despatched to bomb the German airfield at Mureaux, France. 38 are effective on the target. 18 from 94BG bomb what they think is a target of opportunity, but it turns out to be a "dummy" airfield that the German have constructed near Dieppe, France. There are no losses or claims in this element.
The third element is a formation of 65 B-17s from : 95BG (20); 100BG (21); and 390BG (22) are despatched to bomb the Caudron-Renault works at Paris, France. 385BG was scheduled to fly this mission but was cancelled when one of their aircraft exploded on the hardstand at Great Ashfield. When the formation reaches Paris, the target is obscured by clouds. So, the formation bombs the Beaumont Le Roger airfield near Paris. 5 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR)-16KIA 13POW 4EVD 10RTD (rescued by ASR); 18 aircraft are damaged and 4 airmen are Wounded in Action (WIA)
NOTE: B-17F-100-BO 42-30414 "Roundtrip Ticket II" was fully loaded with 500lb bombs and parket on dispersal No. 9 at Great Ashfield. An oxygen leak in the top turret slinger ring had been detected and teh crew had exited the aircraft and were waiting for the leak to be repaired. For some unknown reason a fire started aboard the aircraft. The fire brigade was called but they were unable to control the fire and the aircraft and its entire bomb load exploded. CPL Edward B. DeWolf was killed. A total of 5 other aircraft were damaged: B-17E 41-9017 and B-17F 5911 "Hesitatin' Hussy" which were parked 390ft away were so damaged by the blast that they had to be scrapped. 3 others were damaged and repaired in two days: B-17F 42-30251, parked at 630ft from the blast: B-17F 42-3097 "The Groundhog", parked 800ft from the explosion; and B-17F 42-30091, parked 900ft from the blast.
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
This appeared to be a dummy airfield set up by the Germans to deceive the bombers. Target of opportunity.
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 54.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 21 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 18 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
384th Bomb Group loses one Missing in Action (MIA).
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 34.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 18 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 12 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 1 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 1 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
388th Bomb Group loses two Missing in Action (MIA).
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 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
...
| Tonnage dropped | 113.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 44 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 38 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 2 |
CAUDRON-RENAULT vehicle factories
B-17 Flying Fortress
390th Bomb Group was unable to locate the other formations, did not bomb. 100th Bomb Group loses 5 and earns the nickname "The Bloody Hundredth". 385th Bomb Group was scheduled to participate but one of their B-17s exploded on the hardstand after catching fire at the engine start, so they withdraw from the mission.
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 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
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...
| Tonnage dropped | 111.00 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 65 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 37 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 5 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 18 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 17 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 4 |
| Number of people Evaded | 7 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 12 |
| Number of people Returned To Duty | 10 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 15 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 8 |
AIR DEPOT
B-17 Flying Fortress
381st Bomb Group loses one Missing in Action (MIA).
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 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 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 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 | 294.25 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 150 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 100 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 1 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 55 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 1 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 2 |
| Number of people Evaded | 3 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 6 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 6 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 7 |
AIRFIELD
B-17 Flying Fortress
92nd Bomb Group and 379th Bomb Group each lose 1 Missing in Action (MIA).
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 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 | 81.25 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 28 |
| Number of aircraft Missing In Action | 2 |
| Number of people Killed In Action | 3 |
| Number of people Evaded | 6 |
| Number of people Prisoners of War | 11 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command | 4 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command | 1 |
| Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command | 2 |
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
Tail gunner, Loftin crew. 381st BG, 534th BS. Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29958 'Battlin' Bombsprayer'. Mission #37 to the Arado Aircraft components at Anklam, Germany. MACR 886. Killed in Action (KIA). Buried in the Ardennes AMC.
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
RWG, Zum crew, 381st BG, 535th BS.
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 381st Bomb Group
Navigator, Loftin crew. 381st BG, 534th BS, 8th AF. Shot down 9 October 1943 in B-17 #42-29958 'Battlin' Bombsprayer'. Mission #37 to the Arado Aircraft components at Anklam, Germany. MACR 886. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft III and Stalag XIIID.
...
Military | Master Sergeant | Flight Engineer/Waist Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel
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 | 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
Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Brookley 3/3/43; Morrison 9/3/43; Assigned Harris Prov. Gp, en route from Marrakech to St Eval, Cornwall, UK 7/4/43 force landed Lytchett Minster, near Poole, Dorset, low on gas with Talmadge Wilson, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 18/2/43; Salina 8/3/43; Pueblo 8/4/43; Smoky Hill 6/5/43; Dow Fd 19/5/43; Presque Is 21/5/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-O] Ridgewell Stone, Joe Mello, Bill Grayson; Missing in Action 4m Romilly 3/9/43 with Ben Zum, Navigator: John...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 8/3/43; Smoky Hill 26/3/43; Baer Fd 10/4/43; Smoky Hill 13/4/43; Dow Fd 18/4/43; Assigned 339BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 24/4/43 MISCHIEF MAKER; Andrews Field 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-H] Grafton...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 17/3/43; Pueblo 8/4/43; Smoky Hill 7/5/43; Dow Fd 21/5/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-J] Ridgewell 24/5/43 with Alan Tucker, Earl Muchway, Dave Harris, Dick Rylands, Chas Raglin, Bill Savage, Jim Klingenberger, John Willdredge, Grover...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/5/43; Assigned to the 547BS/384BG [S0-G] Grafton Underwood 24/5/43, then the 546BS [BK-G]; Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Maj Maurice Stanley Dillingham, Co-pilot:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Gore Fd 27/4/43; Cheyenne 2/5/43; Sioux City 13/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 23/6/43 as CHARLENE; 15m transferred RCM 803BS Sculthorpe 19/1/44; Oulton 16/5/44; 36BS Cheddington...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Sioux City 8/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 14/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 15/6/43.
...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 2017 19:38:45 | ThomBear | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Added a/c 41-24560 per post-mission report. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:59:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to St. Andre element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:57:33 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015, Added bomber gunner claims to Romilly element statistics. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:55:45 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Caudron-Renault element statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:52:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to event |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015. Added bomber gunner claims to Evreuax/Fauville statistics per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", ROger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:49:11 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30May-2015. Editing Mission Narrative adding note about 385BG aircraft explosion based on "The Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:19:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015. Correcting Mission Narrative for Romilly based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 May 2015 00:02:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015. Correcting typo in Mission Narrative. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 May 2015 23:56:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-May-2015. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" , Roger A. Freeman and amended per the 303BG Mission Report and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
||
| 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'. |
||
