8th Air Force CARPETBAGGER

5 April 1944

Description

17 B-24s from 801BG/406BS are despatched on a CARPETBAGGER Operation to drop weapns and supplies to French partisans. 1 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) shot down by AA fire, vrew were not wearing parachutes. The Tail Gunner baled out wihtout a parachute, struck a tree crushing his chest, but was executed three days later. 6KIA 3POW.

Mission Details

PARTISANS

Description: CARPETBAGGER MISSIONS

Notes: 801st Bomb Group dispatches B-24s to drop supplies to guerrillas in France.

The insignia of the 36th Bomb Squadron (Radar Counter Measures).
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: NA

Connections

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

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Flak
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 13-Mar-2016. Added Carpetbagger to mission title.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 13-Mar-2016. Added Mission Narrative based on "The Mighty Eighth War Dairy", Roger A. Freeman and "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

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'.