VIII Bomber Command 38
27 February 1943
Original caption : “Crew of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “SKY WOLF“ pose beside the plane. 303rd Bomb Group. England. 27 February 1943.“
[ From left to right : Captain Samuel H. Anderson; Captain Carl H. Morales; Major Clemens K. Wurzbach; Captain Hubert E. Miller; 1st Lt Frank E. Zasadil. "Sky Wolf" is B-17 # 41-24562. ]
Added photo
Object Number - UPL 20589 - Official USAAF photo – B-61690 AC Original caption : “Crew of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress “SKY WOLF“ pose beside the plane. 303rd Bomb...
Description
With weather and cloud cover continuing to frustrate bombing efforts against targets in Northern Germany, VIII Bomber Command decides to mount a raid against the harbour facilities at Brest, France. A total of 60 B-17s are destached: 91BG (18); 303BG (16); 305BG (12) and 306BG (17). Of this formation only 46 are effective on the target because 305BG receives a bogus recall message and all 12 of its aircraft turn back even though the target was in sight. Flak is light and there is no fighter opposition. There are no aircraft losses in this formation.
A total of 15 B-24s also participate in this mission: 44BG (10) and 93BG (5). 14 of this formation are effective on the the target and there are no aircraft losses in this formation.
Mission Details
Brest, France
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes: No fighter escort on this mission. 305th Bomb Group turned back in sight of the target when a bogus recall message was received.
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 113.00
- People returned to duty: 10
- Aircraft sent: 63
- Aircraft effective: 46
- Aircraft damaged beyond repair: 1
Brest, France
Description: U-BOAT PENS
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Mission Statistics
- Tonnage Dropped: 42
- Aircraft sent: 15
- Aircraft effective: 14
- Aircraft damaged: 2
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
People
![Sergeant Bernard Aleys Gergash, of the 303rd Bomb Group, fills a water bucket. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238749.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '32a. Filling the bucket is Sgt. Bernard Aleys Gergash, of 1025 Union Ave., Chicago Heights. Aged 24, he worked as a radio operator with the C.A.A.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378924.jpg.webp?itok=OXfueaD3)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36302819
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14054504 / O-442691
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660491
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 487th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 13011194
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner / Observer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description based on " The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 24-Dec-2014. Description based on " The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.
Lee Cunningham 24-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'.