VIII Bomber Command 29
13 January 1943Description
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG (17) of these 64 are effective on the target, 3 are MIA and 15 are damaged. The attacking element is provided a fighter escort, the first time that fighters have been specifically despatched by 8AF to support an 8AF heavy bombing mission.
The attacking formation is supported with a diversion flown by 16 B-24s despatched by 44th Bomb Group.
Mission Details
Description: DIVERSION
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Notes: Diversion for raid on Lille, France.
Mission Statistics
- Aircraft sent: 16
LILLE (Primary)
Description: ATCLIER D'HELLEMMES RR WORKS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: 306th Bomb Group/369BS B-17 (serial number 41-24471, "Four of a Kind") collides with 306th Bomb Group/ 369BS B-17 serial number 41-24498 on the way out from the target.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 160.60
- People killed in action: 24
- People wounded in action: 9
- People evaded: 1
- Prisoners of war: 15
- Enemy aircrafts destroyed by bomber: 3
- Enemy aircrafts probably destroyed by bomber: 4
- Enemy aircraft damaged by bomber: 5
- Aircraft sent: 72
- Aircraft effective: 64
- Aircraft missing in action: 3
- Aircraft damaged: 15
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-435877
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19064357
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13025935
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11018679
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- 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
Aircraft
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Feb-2015. Added Bomber Gunner claims to statistics on Lille per "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 8-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A Freeman and "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.
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'.