70 years ago today 20 April 1944 - From the 8th AF Historical Society database and The Mighty Eighth War Diary by Roger A. Freeman. Mission 309: 842 bombers and 388 fighters are dispatched to hit V-weapon sites in France; 24 of 33 sites briefed are hit; 9 bombers and 2 fighters are lost. Details are: 1. 438 of 630 B-17s hit sites in the Pas de Calais and Cherbourg areas; 19 others hit targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 309 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 25 WIA and 69 MIA. 2. 113 of 212 B-24s hit sites in the Pas de Calais area; 2 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged; casualties are 10 KIA, 9 WIA and 20 MIA. Groups participating: 1BD: 91BG, 92BG, 303BG, 305BG, 306BG, 351BG, 379BG, 381BG, 384BG, 401BG, 457BG; 2BD: 44BG, 93BG, 389BG, 392BG, 445BG, 446BG, 448BG, 453BG, 458BG, 466BG, 467BG; 3BD: 94BG, 95BG, 96BG, 100BG, 385BG, 388BG, 390BG, 447BG, 452BG. Bomb Group losses - 1BD: 401BG (2 a/c), 457BG (1 a/c); 2BD: 445BG (1 a/c), 448BG (1 a/c); 3BD: 94BG (1 a/c),96BG (1 a/c),390BG (1 a/c), 452BG (1 a/c). Escort for Mission 309 is provided by 89 P-38s, 211 P-47s and 88 P-51s; they claim 4-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 4-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA. Escort Fighter Groups participating - P-38s: 20FG, 364FG; P-47s: 56FG, 353FG, 356FG, 359FG, 361FG; P-51s: 4FG, 352FG, 355FG. Fighter Group losses: 355FG - 2. VIII Fighter Command flies 2 missions: 1. 35 P-51s of 357FG fighter-bombers are dispatched to Cambrai/Epinoy Airfield, France; escort is to be provided by 31 P-47s of 78FG but they are unable to locate the P-51s; 33 P-51s hit the primary and 1 hits Vitry Airfield, France. This is the first 8AF P-51 fighter-bomber mission. 2. 56 P-38 fighter-bombers of 55FG are dispatched to hit St Trond Airfield, Belgium but jettison their bombs in the English Channel after overcast prevents location of the targets; escort is provided by 36 P-47s of 78FG. Mission 310: 5 of 5 B-17s of 1BD, 422BS drop 1.92 million leaflets on Nantes, Orleans, Paris and Tours, France at 2238-2246 hours without loss. Six B-24s of 801BG are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 15:05:21 +0000
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