HEADQUARTERS VIII BOMBER COMMAND
ETOUSA
 
APO 634
  
 
(F-EPF-3)
  
     
 
SUBJECT : Mission 21 October, 1942 - A-4 Report
    on Battle Damage
     
TO : Commanding General 8th Air Force
 
     
          1.     One hundred seven heavy bombardment aircraft took part in the mission 21 October 1942 as follows:  
     
 
Group
Planes Detailed
       
93rd   24 B-24D
97th   21 B-17F
301st   25 B-17F
306th   20 B-17F
92nd   17 B-17E
 
     
          These aircraft represented 80% of the total of 136 available for combat in VIII Bomber Command.  
     
          2.     The total available for combat represented in turn 71% of the 191 total heavy bombardment aircraft assigned to VIII Bomber Command.  
     
          3.     One plane from the 97th Group and 5 from 92nd returned early due to mechanical difficulties as commented on below:  
     
 
  ACSN Remarks
     
97th 41-24406 Aileron motor binding
92nd 41-9013 Ball turret guns out of time
  41-9103 Ball turret guns would not fire
  41-9119

Ball turret right hand gun turret burned. Interphone was cutting out. No. 4 engine R.P.M. fluctuating
  41-9129 Top turret gun out. Radio receiver weak.
  41-9174 No. 4 engine smoking and throwing oil
 
     
          4.     Three aircraft (all from 97th which was the only group to reach the target) failed to return from mission:  
     
 
Nos. 41-24344 41-24441 41-24443
 
     
  *5.     Five aircraft of the 97th suffered damage from enemy gun-fire  
     
  *One of this five landed safely at Exeter.  
     
 
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ACSN Remarks Est in
     
41-24400 At Exeter 2 wks or more
41-24417 Wing damaged by 20mm shells 2 weeks
41-24415 "          "          "          "           "
41-24376 Repair to vertical stabilizer 10 days
41-24392 Slight bullet damage 1 day
 
          6.     Ammunition and bomb expenditure by groups participating in the mission is tabulated below:  
     
 
  Bombs Rounds 50 cal Rounds 30 cal
       
93rd 96 x 1600 lb AP none none
97th 40 x 2000 lb GP 18400 100
301st 125 x 1000 lb GP 1200 none
306th 210 x 500 lb GP 15200 700
92nd 201 x 100 lb M30 1400 none
 
     
          7.     For the Group reaching the target (the 97th) the 50 cal. ammunition expended represented 18% of normal load for 21 B-17F aircraft and the 30 cal represented less than 1%.  
     
     
     
     
 
Ira C. Eaker
Major General U.S.A.
Commanding.
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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