VIII Bomber Command 51

16 April 1943
The control tower at Thurleigh air base. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible in the background. Image via Mike Bowyer A veteran has written on the reverse: 'From Mike Bowyer 3/72 from collection of wing/Co. 76 sqd. Halifax at Home. RAF station WWII.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WW:G 25729, GY:X.' media-379027.jpg FRE 1161 The control tower at RAF Colerne. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible in the background. 306BG B-17Fs 42-5729 (WW-G) and 42-29554 (GY-X) diverted to RAF Colerne following the 16th April 1943 mission to Lorient. Image via Mike Bowyer A veteran has written on the reverse: 'From Mike Bowyer 3/72 from collection of wing/Co. 76 sqd. Halifax at Home. RAF station WWII.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WW:G 25729, GY:X.' Roger Freeman Collection

Removed the association to Thurleigh.

Object Number - FRE 1161 - The control tower at RAF Colerne. A B-17 Flying Fortress (WW-G, serial number 42-5729 later nicknamed "Buccaneer") of the 306th Bomb Group is visible...

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.

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • 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

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • 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: The Devil Himself
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-U, serial number 42-5177) nicknamed "Fast Woman (Fast Worker II)". Image via Pete Bowens.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fast Woman : Fast Worker MK II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Dec-2014. Correction of typo in description.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Dec-2014. Description based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

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'.

VIII Bomber Command 51: Gallery (1 items)