VIII Bomber Command 25

12 December 1942

Official Description

17 HBs bomb Rouen-Sotteville M/Y. Bad weather prevents large attack planned for air installations at Romilly-sur-Seine.

Description

This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is obscured by clouds so the force attacks the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville as a target of last resort (L), but clouds frustrate bombing and only 17 aircraft are effective and none of the 21 despatched by 305BG are able to bomb.

Second element: A force of 12 B-24s are despatched on a diversionary attack on the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France. These are joined by 6 B-17s despatched by 11th Combat Crew Replacement Center. The airfield is not bombed.

Mission Details

Description: DIVERSION

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 6

ABBEVILLE/ DRUCAT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Notes: Cloud prevented bombing.

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 12

ROMILLY-SUR-SEINE (Primary)

Description: AIR DEPOT

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 305th Bomb Group could not bomb because of cloud cover.

Mission Statistics

  • People wounded in action: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 21
  • Aircraft damaged: 1

ROUEN/ SOTTEVILLE (Last Resort)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: No fighter escort for any of the elements in this mission.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 40.00
  • People killed in action: 2
  • People wounded in action: 8
  • People evaded: 9
  • Prisoners of war: 9
  • Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 19
  • Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 8
  • Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 2
  • Aircraft sent: 60
  • Aircraft effective: 17
  • Aircraft missing in action: 2
  • Aircraft damaged: 10

Connections

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

People

Beverly R Polk

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726071
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Bernard Francis Priebe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17020318 / O-661865
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Bliss David Purinton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6571977
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
First Lieutenant Ehle H. Reber and Captain Lloyd R. Cole, both of the 303rd Bomb Group, relax in Reber's quarters. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 25 Jan 1943.' [stamp] and '245295.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'How the boys live and work at Flying Fortress Station in England. Wide World Photo shows: 1st Lieut. Ehle H. Reber, Malin, Oregon (left) and Captain Lloyd R. Cole, Winchester, KY. In Reber's quarters, which, as you see, he's turned into a

Ehle H Reber

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-414648
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Major Eugene Allen Romig, an airman of the 303rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257539.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Holder of the D.F.C. and Air Medal, Major Eugene Allen Romig, aged 25, is now serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain as a pilot. His home address is 910 Troy Place, N.W. Canton, Ohio, and in civil life he was a student. U 76. Not to be published before April 20, 1943.'

Eugene Allen Romig

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 457th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (351st Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-21856
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer

Aircraft

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Rouen per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Nov-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman; "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

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'.