VIII Air Support Command 52
7 September 1943Description
A combined force of 144 B-26s from: 386BG (36); 387BG (26); 322BG (36); and 323BG (36) is despatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards (MY) at Lille and St.Pol France. Apparently, there was some confusion during the assembly of the formations for the mission and the 36 despatched from 386BG to bomb MY at Lille, France abandoned the mission. There were no losses or claims in 386BG but 2 aircraft were damaged; the assembly confusion also affected the 36 despatched to bomb the MY at St. Pol, France and only 12 managed to hit the target.
72 of the 144 despatched (36 from 322BG and 36 from 323BG) set their sights on the railroad marshalling yards at St. Pol, France. 69 are effective on the target. There are no losses. The bomber gunners claim 0-0-1 of attacking German aircraft.
Mission Details
LILLE
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
Notes: Confusion at the rendezvous causes 386th Bomb Group to abort. Also, half of 387th Bomb Group aircraft also aborted.
![Lieutenant James T. Wilson and Lieutenant Robert J. Owen of the 386th Bomb Group in the cockpit of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279545.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. The B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380230.jpg.webp?itok=rq3kY4oi)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: None
- Aircraft sent: 36
- Aircraft damaged: 2
SAINT POL
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Private First Class Barbara O'Brien of the Womens Army Corps, paints the nose of a B-26 Marauder (YU-Y. serial number 41-34982) nicknamed "Jolly Roger" of the 323rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publcation 4 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295589.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'W.A.C.S. on duty at a Bomber Station. Associated Press Photo shows:- Pfc: Barbara O'Brien painting the Jolly Roger on the nose of a Marauder with the crew looking on.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380000.jpg.webp?itok=SSrEVQvb)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 103.07
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 1
- Aircraft sent: 72
- Aircraft effective: 69
SAINT POL
Description: MARSHALLING YARDS
Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 17.92
- Aircraft sent: 36
- Aircraft effective: 12
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 2-Jun-2015. Corrected bomb tonnage dropped by 12 aircraft at St. Pol per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jun-2015. Added tonnage dropped and bomber gunner claims to the statistics of the St.Pol attack by 69 aircraft per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 2-Jun-2015. Added Mission Narrative 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'.