VIII Bomber Command 51
16 April 1943Removed the association to Thurleigh.
Description
The German U-Boat threat to Allied ship convoys and the destruction of the harbour facilities supporting that capability are the number 1 priority of the Combined Bomber Offensive. Thus, the U-boat pens at Lorient, France and the harbour facilities at Brest, France are the primary targets for this mission. 83 B-17s are despatched to bomb at Lorient, France: 91BG (21); 303BG (21); 305BG (21) and 306BG (20). Fighter attacks, flak, and clouds frustrate the bombing effort and only 59 of the 83 aircraft depatched are effective on the target. Only 1 B-17 from 305BG is MIA, and 8 aircraft are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 9-4-2 on enemy aircraft.
A force of 25 B-24s is despatched to bomb the harbour facilities at Brest, France: 44BG (12) and 93BG (13). 19 of 25 are effective on the target but accuracy is frustrated by an effective smoke screen. Enemy aircraft and flak down 3 B-24s of 93BG. The bomber gunners claim 2-3-1 on enemy fighters.
Mission Details
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: The attack on Brest is hampered by an effective smoke screen, no fighter escort on this mission.
- 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: 52.00
- People killed in action: 31
- People wounded in action: 3
- Aircraft sent: 25
- Aircraft effective: 19
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 9
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- 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: 147.00
- People killed in action: 5
- People wounded in action: 7
- Prisoners of war: 5
- Aircraft sent: 83
- Aircraft effective: 59
- Aircraft missing in action: 1
- Aircraft damaged: 8
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12030272
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14049756 / O-437941
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-790930
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728815
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 364th Fighter Group 1st Scouting Force 384th Fighter Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (1st Combat Bomb Wing)
- Service Numbers: 18052358 / O-441827
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Liberty Lass
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 409th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bad Check
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Joe Btfsplk II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Devil Himself
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 30-Dec-2014. Description 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'.