July 4, 1942 First US Raid.

[Herb Kugel]

Originally Posted by robert

Hi,

I have also AL750 crash-landed (in England?)

Regards

Robert

Thank you.

[Herb Kugel]

Originally Posted by Steve49

Herb,

On this occasion the two lost AAC manned Boston's each had a pilot, navigator and two gunners. The normal compliment was three (ie pilot, navigator and WO/Gunner), but this was not a fixed total. in August during the Dieppe raid a number of Boston's were lost, one of which had four crew.

Regards,

Steve

Hi, thank you. The references I have simply refer to the Boston as a 'three-seat bomber.'

[Martin Giles]

Actually 04.07.42 was not the first, but the 4th July has such propaganda value that it is the one always mentionned

29.06.42 Bostons sent to bomb Hazebrouck railway yards. The mainly 226 Sqn raid was joined by a crew from the 15th Bombardment Squadron (L) USAAF, the first US bombing sortie from the UK in the war. (12 Bostons in total)

Martin

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Just to add a little more from page 264 of the Mighty Eighth.

AL750 - MQ-Z - Capt. Kegelman
AL677 - MQ-P - Lt. Loehrl
AL741 - MQ-V - 2Lt. Lynn
AL746 - MQ-M - Capt. Odell
AL670 - MQ-D - Capt. Crabtree
Z2303 - MQ-J - Lt. Howel

This confirms the mention of AL750 in an earlier post and adds three more aircraft/crew details.

Alex

[Herb Kugel]

Hi, thank you for the information, it does help and is most appreciated. BTW, Kegelman had quite a career:


Malachowski, Jim, Vance Auxiliary Field Named After 1940s AAF Bomber Pilot,
http://www.vanceairscoop.com/print.php?story_id=1520&PHPSESSID=dd154fd00588d075 f0e6e5c3009b345e

[Herb Kugel]

HI, one question, please. Craven and Cate call the unit the 15th Bombardment Squadron (Separate.) Other publications call the unit the 15th Bomb Squadron. Was there some sort of change of names? Is one name correct, another wrong? Also, by 'Separate,' does this mean that the 15th had not been assigned to a Bomb Group until it arrived in the U.K., at which time it was assigned to the VIII BC?
Thanks
Herb

[kurlannaiskos]

although rarely used by the American Air Forces the Boston could be used with two gunners.
one in the upper rear 'clamshell' position and the other in the lower aft fuselage, this poor soul had to lay prone.
hence, 'a three-seat bomber' but able to have four men in the crew.
(the Soviets sometimes used this position)


(L) equals Light
(H) equals heavy
both are in-accurate as these are Medium bombers.

[Herb Kugel]

Thank you.
I have never found this in any of the books I study.
Herb

[Steve49]

Herb,

My understanding is that the unit was the 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light). It had been part of the 27th Bombardment Group, but deactivated in October 1941. Later reformed, the 15th BS (L) arrived in the UK in May 1942 without a parent Bombardment Group. Remaining a seperate unit the squadron was transferred to the 12th Air Force in September 1942 and deployed to North Africa in November 1942. Here it was disbanded and its personnel taken over the 47th BG (L).

Regards,

Steve

[Herb Kugel]

Originally Posted by Steve49

Herb,

Originally Posted by Steve49

My understanding is that the unit was the 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light). It had been part of the 27th Bombardment Group, but deactivated in October 1941. Later reformed, the 15th BS (L) arrived in the UK in May 1942 without a parent Bombardment Group. Remaining a seperate unit the squadron was transferred to the 12th Air Force in September 1942 and deployed to North Africa in November 1942. Here it was disbanded and its personnel taken over the 47th BG (L).
Regards,
Steve

Hi, if this is so, that is if the 15th BS was never formally part of VIII BG, were Captain Kegelman and his crew, who were decorated for their part in the July 4th mission, actually ever part of the 8th AF? The literature I read has these men as the first 8th AF people to be decorated. Also, some of the literature I've read call the unit the 15th Bombardment Group and some call it the 15th Bomb Group. Is there something formal here?
Thank you.
Herb