29 May 1943

SATURDAY, 29 MAY 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force)
VIII Bomber Command Mission Number 61: 169 B-17's are dispatched against
the submarine pens and locks at Saint-Nazaire, France; 147 aircraft hit
the target at 1706-1711 hours local; we claim 6-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; we
lose 8 B-17's, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 58 are damaged; casualties
are 10 WIA and 71 MIA. 7 YB-40's, heavily armored B-17's with increased
firepower for escorting bombers, fly their first mission. YB-40's show an
inability to keep up with B-17's and the need for modification of waist and
tail gun feeds and ammunition supplies. In two other raids, 72 B-17's are
dispatched against the Rennes, France naval depot; 57 hit the target at
1601-1605 hours; we claim 19-5-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; we lose 6 B-17's, 1
is damaged beyond repair and 30 others are damaged; casualties are 1 KIA,
10 WIA and 64 MIA. In the third raid, 38 B-24's are dispatched against
the U-boat yards at La Pallice, France; 34 hit the target without any
casualties on either side.