6 March 1943

SATURDAY, 6 MARCH 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Bomber Command Mission No. 40: 71 B-17's of the 1st Bombardment
Wing are dispatched against the power plant, bridge and the port area at
Lorient, France; 65 drop 162.5 tons on the target between 1441 and 1445
hours local. We claim 7 aircraft destroyed, 2 probably destroyed and 1
damaged; we lose 3 B-17's and 8 others are damaged; casualties are 30 MIAs.
Fifteen B-24's of the 2d Bombardment Wing fly a diversionary mission
against the a bridge and the U-boat facilities at Brest, France; all 15 drop
44.5 tons of bombs at 1416-1417 hours local. We claim 2 aircraft destroyed
and 2 damaged; 3 B-24's are damaged but there are no casualties.