329

30 April 1944
media-34112.jpeg UPL 34112 "ENGINE ASSEMBLY-REPAIR BASE HIT: As smoke and fire spill away from hits on hangars and workshops on one end of the Engine assembly and repair base at Clermont-Ferrand in south central France during the 8th AF heavy bomber attack of April 30 1944 other hits are registered on buildings in another portion of the field."

Object Number - UPL 34112 - "ENGINE ASSEMBLY-REPAIR BASE HIT: As smoke and fire spill away from hits on hangars and workshops on one end of the Engine assembly and repair base...

Mission Details

CLERMONT-FERRAND/AULNAT (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 294.5 T HE

LYON/BRON (Primary)

Description: AIRFIELD

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92 Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group, 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 457th BG - MISSION NO. 37 - LYON, FRANCE 30 APRIL, 1944 The mission was a continuation of the drive commenced to wipe out the German anti-invasion fortifications. Twenty- four aircraft of the 457th were dispatched to attack Lyon-Bron Airfield, being used as a German fighter base. The Group assumed the Wing lead position with Lt. Col. Raymond L. Cobb flying as Air Commander and Lt. J. L. Smith as pilot. All bombs were dropped on the primary target with excellent results. There were direct hits on the hangar assigned as the main aiming point, and all bombs were within 2,000 feet of that point. No enemy aircraft attacked and flak was light. All aircraft returned without damage. April concluded with the Group having flown fifteen missions over a twenty-two day period, a comparatively busy month.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 277.5 T HE

SIRACOURT (Primary)

Description: V-1 MISSILE SITES

Notes: 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group.

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 203 T HE

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12208374
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Top turret gunner/ flight engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-434690
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Operations Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19193344
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: My Wild Irish Rose
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 790th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Diana Queen Of The Chase
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Old 66 / Lady Margaret
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

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'.

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