414 Bomber Sqdn.
August 17, 1942 - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flies in combat against the Germans for the first time when 12 B-17E Flying Fortresses of the 8th Air Force's 97th Bombardment Group (H), under the command of Colonel Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., take off from RAF Polebrook in Oundle, Northamptonshire, England to bomb the Rouen-Sotteville railroad marshaling yards in Rouen, France. The B-17s are led by Colonel Armstrong and Major Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the Executive Officer of the 97th Bombardment Group (H). They are escorted to the target by five squadrons of Royal Air Force Spitfires, the B-17s, meet light resistance from Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 109F fighters from Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3s from Jagdgeschwader 2. Staff Sergeant Kent R. West, a ball turret gunner in one of the B-17s, becomes the first aerial gunner in the 8th Air Force to shoot down a German plane in the European Theater of Operations during this mission. He is later killed in action over North Africa on December 26, 1942. Of the 12 B-17s that bomb Rouen that day, two are damaged but none are shot down and all return safely to RAF Polebrook without any casualties.
(The above article contributed by FAG Contributor Andy #48021049. Thanks to Andy for this information.)
"SSG West was born on March 2, 1918 in Alabama. His parents George and Lesta were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a coal mine engineer and later a coal mine pipe man. Kent had two older brothers, an older sister, two younger brothers (one served in the navy during the war) and two younger sisters.
He was drafted into the army on February 10, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a sergeant and gunner in the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. This was the first US heavy bomb group to fly a combat mission from England. On August 17, 1942 Sgt. West was part of that mission to bomb the railroad marshaling yards at Rouen, France. During this mission, in the B-17 Birmingham Blitzkrieg, he shot down a German plane as a rear gunner, becoming the first US aerial gunner in the war to do so.
In October, Sgt. West's unit was transferred to the 12th Air Force to support the invasion of North Africa. On December 26, 1942 Birmingham Blitzkrieg was on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia. It was hit by flak and exploded in mid-air. All ten men onboard were lost, including ball turret gunner Sgt. West, and they are still listed as missing in action."
Contributor: Thomas Jeremiason (48157611) Thank you for this information.
August 17, 1942 - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flies in combat against the Germans for the first time when 12 B-17E Flying Fortresses of the 8th Air Force's 97th Bombardment Group (H), under the command of Colonel Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., take off from RAF Polebrook in Oundle, Northamptonshire, England to bomb the Rouen-Sotteville railroad marshaling yards in Rouen, France. The B-17s are led by Colonel Armstrong and Major Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the Executive Officer of the 97th Bombardment Group (H). They are escorted to the target by five squadrons of Royal Air Force Spitfires, the B-17s, meet light resistance from Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 109F fighters from Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3s from Jagdgeschwader 2. Staff Sergeant Kent R. West, a ball turret gunner in one of the B-17s, becomes the first aerial gunner in the 8th Air Force to shoot down a German plane in the European Theater of Operations during this mission. He is later killed in action over North Africa on December 26, 1942. Of the 12 B-17s that bomb Rouen that day, two are damaged but none are shot down and all return safely to RAF Polebrook without any casualties.
(The above article contributed by FAG Contributor Andy #48021049. Thanks to Andy for this information.)
"SSG West was born on March 2, 1918 in Alabama. His parents George and Lesta were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a coal mine engineer and later a coal mine pipe man. Kent had two older brothers, an older sister, two younger brothers (one served in the navy during the war) and two younger sisters.
He was drafted into the army on February 10, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a sergeant and gunner in the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. This was the first US heavy bomb group to fly a combat mission from England. On August 17, 1942 Sgt. West was part of that mission to bomb the railroad marshaling yards at Rouen, France. During this mission, in the B-17 Birmingham Blitzkrieg, he shot down a German plane as a rear gunner, becoming the first US aerial gunner in the war to do so.
In October, Sgt. West's unit was transferred to the 12th Air Force to support the invasion of North Africa. On December 26, 1942 Birmingham Blitzkrieg was on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia. It was hit by flak and exploded in mid-air. All ten men onboard were lost, including ball turret gunner Sgt. West, and they are still listed as missing in action."
Contributor: Thomas Jeremiason (48157611) Thank you for this information.
414 Bomber Sqdn.
August 17, 1942 - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flies in combat against the Germans for the first time when 12 B-17E Flying Fortresses of the 8th Air Force's 97th Bombardment Group (H), under the command of Colonel Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., take off from RAF Polebrook in Oundle, Northamptonshire, England to bomb the Rouen-Sotteville railroad marshaling yards in Rouen, France. The B-17s are led by Colonel Armstrong and Major Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the Executive Officer of the 97th Bombardment Group (H). They are escorted to the target by five squadrons of Royal Air Force Spitfires, the B-17s, meet light resistance from Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 109F fighters from Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3s from Jagdgeschwader 2. Staff Sergeant Kent R. West, a ball turret gunner in one of the B-17s, becomes the first aerial gunner in the 8th Air Force to shoot down a German plane in the European Theater of Operations during this mission. He is later killed in action over North Africa on December 26, 1942. Of the 12 B-17s that bomb Rouen that day, two are damaged but none are shot down and all return safely to RAF Polebrook without any casualties.
(The above article contributed by FAG Contributor Andy #48021049. Thanks to Andy for this information.)
"SSG West was born on March 2, 1918 in Alabama. His parents George and Lesta were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a coal mine engineer and later a coal mine pipe man. Kent had two older brothers, an older sister, two younger brothers (one served in the navy during the war) and two younger sisters.
He was drafted into the army on February 10, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a sergeant and gunner in the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. This was the first US heavy bomb group to fly a combat mission from England. On August 17, 1942 Sgt. West was part of that mission to bomb the railroad marshaling yards at Rouen, France. During this mission, in the B-17 Birmingham Blitzkrieg, he shot down a German plane as a rear gunner, becoming the first US aerial gunner in the war to do so.
In October, Sgt. West's unit was transferred to the 12th Air Force to support the invasion of North Africa. On December 26, 1942 Birmingham Blitzkrieg was on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia. It was hit by flak and exploded in mid-air. All ten men onboard were lost, including ball turret gunner Sgt. West, and they are still listed as missing in action."
Contributor: Thomas Jeremiason (48157611) Thank you for this information.
August 17, 1942 - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flies in combat against the Germans for the first time when 12 B-17E Flying Fortresses of the 8th Air Force's 97th Bombardment Group (H), under the command of Colonel Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., take off from RAF Polebrook in Oundle, Northamptonshire, England to bomb the Rouen-Sotteville railroad marshaling yards in Rouen, France. The B-17s are led by Colonel Armstrong and Major Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., the Executive Officer of the 97th Bombardment Group (H). They are escorted to the target by five squadrons of Royal Air Force Spitfires, the B-17s, meet light resistance from Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Bf 109F fighters from Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3s from Jagdgeschwader 2. Staff Sergeant Kent R. West, a ball turret gunner in one of the B-17s, becomes the first aerial gunner in the 8th Air Force to shoot down a German plane in the European Theater of Operations during this mission. He is later killed in action over North Africa on December 26, 1942. Of the 12 B-17s that bomb Rouen that day, two are damaged but none are shot down and all return safely to RAF Polebrook without any casualties.
(The above article contributed by FAG Contributor Andy #48021049. Thanks to Andy for this information.)
"SSG West was born on March 2, 1918 in Alabama. His parents George and Lesta were also both born in Alabama. His father worked as a coal mine engineer and later a coal mine pipe man. Kent had two older brothers, an older sister, two younger brothers (one served in the navy during the war) and two younger sisters.
He was drafted into the army on February 10, 1942. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and became a sergeant and gunner in the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force which was equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. This was the first US heavy bomb group to fly a combat mission from England. On August 17, 1942 Sgt. West was part of that mission to bomb the railroad marshaling yards at Rouen, France. During this mission, in the B-17 Birmingham Blitzkrieg, he shot down a German plane as a rear gunner, becoming the first US aerial gunner in the war to do so.
In October, Sgt. West's unit was transferred to the 12th Air Force to support the invasion of North Africa. On December 26, 1942 Birmingham Blitzkrieg was on a mission to Biskra, Tunisia. It was hit by flak and exploded in mid-air. All ten men onboard were lost, including ball turret gunner Sgt. West, and they are still listed as missing in action."
Contributor: Thomas Jeremiason (48157611) Thank you for this information.
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