347

9 May 1944
media-44063.jpeg UPL 44063 8th Air Force mission 347, Tille Air Field, France; May 9, 1944 447th Bomb Group collection

Timothy Motz, from Pictorial History of the 447th Bombardment Group (H) https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/41056

Object Number - UPL 44063 - 8th Air Force mission 347, Tille Air Field, France; May 9, 1944

Mission Details

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 2 T HE

FLORENNES (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 382nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group.

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 200 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 12 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group, 486th Bomb Group.

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 151 T HE

LAON/ATHIES (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 117 T HE

LAON/COUVRON (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 79 T HE

LAON/COUVRON (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

The insignia of the 34th Bomb Group
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 487th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 164 T HE

LIEGE (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 224 T HE

LILLE/VENDEVILLE (Opportunistic)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 19 T HE

LUXEMBOURG (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 42 - CITY OF LUXEMBOURG, LUXEMBOURG 9 MAY, 1944 The target was the Luxembourg marshalling yards. Eighteen aircraft composed the Group squadron flying the high box in the 94th Combat Wing. Major Leroy Watson was Air Commander with Lt. Mark R. Beicher as pilot . The Group proceeded to the target without incident. Over the target the lead craft had started a 360 degree turn when, for some unexplained reason, the red Aldis lamp was moved. This caused a reflection which the Deputy Lead construed as the signal to take over and to drop the bombs. The Group then dropped their bombs on the Deputy Lead's bombs. Bombing results were poor.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 133 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 26 T HE

ST. DIZIER (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: This mission begins the pre-invasion bombing of airfields and marshalling yards in France. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group,401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 140 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 227 T HE

THIONVILLE (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 93 T HE

THIONVILLE (Secondary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 91 T HE

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: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6962724
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18216616
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rough Riders
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Big Dick Hard To Hit
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
42-102396
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 325th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

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'.

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