479
17 July 1944Mission Details
PAS-DE-CALAIS / Houppeville (388th Bomb Group)
Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES
Notes: 12 sites are targeted. ___________________________________________________________________________ The 3rd Air Division dispatched its forces to attack pilotless aircraft installations just inside the French Coast. The 388th Bomb Group furnished two 12-plane formations which flew individually. Wing formations were not affected for this mission. 12 aircraft of the A Group were airborne by 1757 hours and the 12 aircraft of the B Group by 1809 hours. None of our planes aborted. The two Groups formed without difficulty and proceeded to the Targets as briefed. The weather over the Target was CAVU and each Group attacked visually. Bombs were away from the A Group at 2035 hours from 23,000 feet. Bombs were away from the B Group at 2042 hours from 22,900 feet. Strike photos show excellent results. Lt. Pohl in aircraft 42-37849, landed safely at this base after his entire crew, except the co-pilot, had bailed-out over the field. All crew members are safe. The ailerons of the aircraft had been shot away by flak and Lt. Pohl gave his crew the choice of bailing out or staying with the plane for an emergency landing. All of our aircraft returned to base by 2305 hours. No enemy aircraft were seen on this mission. The A Group encountered meager but accurate flak at Cleres. The B Group encountered moderate and accurate flak at Rouen and St. Martin. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger). ___________________________________________________________________________
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 388.7 T
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 715th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0756185
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38002619
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747464
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16134234
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Yankee Buzz Bomb
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Rough Riders
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Heaven's Above/Panhandle Kid
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol' Faithful
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Belle of the brawl
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger).
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'.