Narrative - Official Air Force Mission Description
| VIII Bomber Command Mission 86 Part I: An air depot and airfields in France are targetted:
1. 110 B-17s are dispatched to the Villacoublay Air Depot; 86 hit the target at 1800-1805 hours; they claim 1-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 64 aircraft are damaged; casualties are 10 WIA.
2. 42 B-17s are dispatched to the Conches and Evreux/Fauville Airfields; 22 hit the target at 1844-1858 hours; they claim 0-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost and 15 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA and 9 WIA.
3. 35 of 36 B-17s fly a diversion without incident. VIII Bomber Command Mission 86 Part II: 85 B-17s, which had flown to North Africa after attacking Regensburg, Germany on 17 Aug, are dispatched to the Bordeaux/Merignac Airfield; 58 hit the target at 1157-1200 hours; they claim 3-3-10 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-17s are lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 40 damaged; casualties are 30 MIA. 9 B-17s returned to North Africa after encountering difficulties.
VIII Air Support Command Missions 33A & 33B: B-26s fly 2 diversions for the B-17s. | |
| Source: THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by Carter / Mueller, the Office of Air Force History, |
Mission Reports
| 303BG Mission Report - Target: Diversion Mission over North Sea. Crews Dispatched: 18 (358BS - 1, 359th - 5, 360th - 6, 427th - 6). Length of Mission: 6 hours, 25 minutes. Bombing Altitude: 15,000 ft. Ammo Fired: 1,153 rounds. For mission No. 63, the 103 PBCW flew its first "diversion mission." The diversion was in support of attacks on French airfields. The 101st and 102nd PBCWs of the 1st BW attacked the Villacoublay Airfield and B-17s of the 4th BW attacked the Conches and Evreaux/Fauville Airfields. The diversion mission was flown at 16,000 ft. The 103 PBCW formations carried no bombs. No flak or enemy aircraft were encountered. All 303rd BG (H) Fortresses returned safely with no casualties. More info on this mission at the 303BG website | source: 303rd Bomb Group web page http://www.303rdbg.com/ | | 306BG Mission Report | source: 306th Bombardment Group website www.306bg.org/ | | 351BG Mission Report - 22 aircraft were sent on this mission. | source: 351st Bomb Group web page http://www.351st.org/ken.harbour | | 388BG Mission Report - On the return bombing trip from Africa, 16 of our a/c took-off from Tulergma Field at 0600 BST and were joined by 6 a /c of the 390th Bomb Group which tacked on as second and third elements of the high squadron. Lt. Dennis in a/c "Miss Mac" had mechanical trouble shortly after take-off and returned to the field in North Africa. They returned the following day. Wing formation was effected without difficulty and the briefed course was followed throughout. The bombing targets were hangers and dispersal area of the airfields. Flak was meager except in the target area where it was intense. Fighter opposition was weak with most of the attacks on the high squadron and the Group following. 11 of our a/c returned to base by 2015 hours while 4 landed elsewhere because of gas shortage. Lt. Cunningham in a/c #425, landed at Oakington out of gas and one engine feathered. He refueled and returned to base at 2140 hours. Lt. Bensel in a/c #954, landed at Okehampton in Southwest England, refueled and returned to base at 2110 hours.
Lt. Rodgers in a/c 42-30230 "Homesick Angel", crash-landed in a field near Foxborough-Stanton after all engines died from lack of gas while in the traffic pattern. The plane is beyond repair but the crew is safe. Captain Forrest in a/c # 362, landed at Lakenheath with one engine feathered and serious engine trouble. | source: 388th Bomb Group web page http://www.388bg.info | | 91st BG / 323nd BS Mission Report - Captain Gladstone and Lt. Rodman piloted ships on the mission to Villacoublay, France. Our group were just off to the right of the Target so did not drop their bombs. All ships of the group returned without casualty, meeting extremely light fighter resistance, largely because P-47 escort took us on the whole route over enemy territory.
| source: 323rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ | | 91st BG / 322nd BS Mission Report - Raid on hangars at Villa Coublay Airdrome, France. Time: Leave Base 1505. Arrive base 1951. Bomb Load: Bombing altitude 21,000 ft. A. A. Fire: Moderate and inaccurate. Enemy Opposition: 10-15 FW 190s and ME109s E/A attacked at 1803 and continued until 1840 hours, none were aggressive. Fighter support entertained them very well. All 323rd A/C were in low group and thru error did not sight target, all bombs were brought back. Other Group in formation did bomb target. Fighter support was excellent.
| source: 322rd Bomb Squadron / 91BG Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ | | 91BG / 401BS Mission Report - Bombs missed MPI but hits and smoke were seen in target area. Meager inaccurate flak reported on way to target. Medium accurate flak experienced at target. ENEMY AIRCRAFT: About 10 to 15 E/A were seen but did not press home their attacks due to excellent fighter cover. | source: 91st BG / 401st BS Mission Report http://www.91stbombgroup.com/ |
Non-Combat Accident Reports
Aircraft: A-20B (#41-3367).
Organization: 153LS / 67RG of Keevil, Wiltshire.
Pilot: Hawkins, Champ C.
Notes: taxiing accident.
Location: Hitcham, Suffolk England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: B-17F (#42-30230).
Organization: 562BS / 388BG of Knettishall, Suffolk.
Pilot: Humphries, Loyd P.
Notes: forced landing out of gas.
Location: Stanton/ 1mi E England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 5
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ | Aircraft: P-47D (#42-7984).
Organization: 357FS / 355FG of Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire.
Pilot: Lambert, Harold L.
Notes: taxiing accident.
Location: Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire England.
Damage (0-5 increasing damage): 3
source: Aviation Archaeology http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/ |
Mission "8th AF Fighter Command Fighter Operation 114"
Sweeps Dunkirk/Lille/Le Touquet area
August 24, 1943Primary source for mission statistics: Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A. Freeman | | | Aircraft
Sent | Aircraft
Effective | Bomb Tonnage | Enemy
Aircraft
X-P-D | Enemy
Aircraft
(on gnd)
X-P-D | USAAF
Aircraft
X-E-D | USAAF
Personnel
KIA-WIA-MIA | Notes | | 90 | 90 | 0.0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | | | Mission Targets Click blue links for maps, photos and other documents. This will open a new tab in your browser | |
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| Aircraft Groups Click blue links for info on the group This will open a new tab in your browser. | |
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| Aircraft Losses Click blue links for info on the MIA aircraft (if known). This will open a new tab in your browser. | | |
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