The Mighty Eighth Air Force
 
plane

 15 September 1943

WEDNESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 1943

EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): VIII Bomber Command
Mission 95: Aviation facilities in France are targeted:
1. 87 of 93 B-17's dispatched attack the Romilly-sur-Seine air depot at
1848-1850 hours; 2 B-17's are damaged beyond repair and 7 damaged;
casualties are 3 WIA.
2. 139 of 152 B-17's dispatched attack three targets; 40 hit the Caudron-
Renault industrial area in Paris at 1855 hours, 21 hit the Billancourt-
Renault works at 1854 hours, and 78 hit the Hispano-Suiza aircraft engine
works in Paris; they claim 12-2-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17's are lost and
33 damaged; casualties are 2 WIA and 51 MIA.
3. 47 of 63 B-24's hit Chartres Airfield at 1904-1911 hours; they claim
3-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost; casualties are 10 MIA.
VIII Bomber Command Mission 96: 5 B-17's of the 422d Bombardment Squadron
(Heavy), 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), join the RAF in
a night attack on the Dunlop factory at Montlucon, France; there are no
losses or casualties.
VIII Air Support Command Mission 58; 2 airfields in France are targeted:
1. 72 B-26's are dispatched to Lille/Nord Airfield but the mission is
aborted due to weather.
2. 68 of 72 B-26's hit Merville Airfield at 1745 and 1748 hours; 27
B-26's are damaged; casualties are 2 WIA.
The 325th, 326th, 327th and 407th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 92d
Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers from Alconbury to Podington, England
with B-17's.