Bombardements de Rouen
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(17/03/2003)
HOW I "ALMOST" MET CAPTAIN TYSE HARDIN
IN 1943…
by Michel LEVEILLARD
A short story relating to World War Two and Eastern
Airlines
During my career at Eastern Airlines, I met, and flew
with two Captains that had bombed my hometown of Rouen in Normandy
France where I lived during World War Two: Captain Tyse Hardin
and Captain Bill Thompson. I called both of them a few years ago
to confirm the dates of their missions when I was preparing the
first part of my life's story for my Children. Both Tyse and Bill
mission details are mentioned in this story, and are recorded
in several USAAF documents.
A while back Tyse Hardin came to visit me at my house;
he brought his logbooks, his albums and miscellaneous war souvenirs.
WHOA! Unbelievable; among Tyse's war souvenirs there was the safety
pins of two of the bombs he dropped on Rouen; one for each mission,
neatly attached to a tag, along with the other missions that he
flew. (Each one of those tags showed the mission dates - the target
- and a bomb safety pin attached to it.)
In his albums, there were pictures of the King and Queen of England
greeting the crew of the "Memphis Belle" upon returning
from their 25th mission. Tyse was right there. In fact in one
of the documentary about the "Memphis Belle", there
is a shot of Tyse's name on the mission briefing board, and a
shot of him taking off in his B-17 named "MIZPAH". (Also
known as: "The Bearded Beauty".)
During Tyse's visit, I also found out that his ancestors
were from Rouen!
Moreover, I can also claim that in some ways, I first "met"
Tyse on March 12 1943, long before anyone else at Eastern did;
He was at 25000 feet, and I was on the ground running like hell
for cover!
I was only 11 years old then, but I sure have vivid memories of
all the 100 plus bombings of my hometown.
The very first B-17 bombing mission flown in Europe
was over Rouen, and in fact, Paul Tibbets (of Hiroshima fame)
was the aircraft Commander of one of the 12 B-17s on that mission.
All I can say to end my story is:
"I am sure glad that your bombs did not kill me
Tyse, and I am equally glad that the Flak, or the Luftwaffe did
not shoot you down, I would have missed meeting a great friend".
As we say in France:
"Mon Dieu, que le Monde est petit"
"Dear God, what a small World it is"
Photos qui accompagnent ce texte
DETAILS OF TYSE HARDIN'S MISSIONS OVER ROUEN
March 12, 1943 - Railway Yards in Rouen, France (B-17s)
Mission details from "Air War Europa" page 110:
"Sixty-three VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Rouen -
Sotteville marshalling yards against little or no opposition".
Notes from Tyse's logbook: P-47s and Spitfires escort. No flak.
Saw one Focke-Wulf 190. Co-Pilot Cox. Dropped 5- 1,000 pounds
bombs."
(THE B-17 "MEMPHIS BELLE" ALSO PARTICIPATED
IN THIS MISSION)
March 12, 1943 - Railway Yards in Rouen, France
Mission report from 8th Air Force records - 91st bomb group:
"The perfect mission. First time Spitfire escorts kept enemy
fighters at arms length while group bombardiers executed their
runs in peace. Inbound diversionary pattern then target was destroyed.
91st put up all 18 flyable forts."
From my personal notes: "I have in my possession a logbook
page of one of the Spitfire pilot that participated in this escort
mission."
March 28 1943 - Railway Yards in Rouen, France (B-17s
& B-24s). Mission details from "Air War Europa"
page 115: "Seventy VIII Bomber Command B-17s attack the Rouen
- Sotteville marshalling yards with 209 tons of bombs, but all
23 B-24s dispatched are recalled due to bad weather. Losses are
one B-17 downed and nine damaged, two crewman wounded, and 10
crewman missing
From my personal notes: "Although I cannot be absolutely
certain, I believe I saw that airplane go down" since it
was the first B-17 shot down over Rouen, and because that day
we saw no parachutes, and we had a lull period with no heavy bombardments
following that one until July."
Notes from Tyse's logbook: "No tail gun. Ball turret inop.
Dropped 6- 1,000 pounds bombs. Coen shot down."
(Maybe the one I saw go down?)
(THE B-17 "MEMPHIS BELLE" ALSO PARTICIPATED
IN THIS MISSION)
Mission report from 8th Air Force records - 91st bomb group:
"March 28th, 1943 - Railroad Center at Rouen, France
Quinlan wounded, the tail of the Belle nearly severed again, two
crewmen passed out (oxygen), light flak but intense fighter opposition.
8th AF recalled bombers but they destroyed the target anyway.
Quinlan credited with 2nd kill."
Michel LEVEILLARD (mars 2003)
Photos qui accompagnent ce texte
Retour à la première
page des documents complémentaires
Documents
Rapport (en anglais) de la première
mission des B-17 de la 8e Air Force (USAAF) sur Rouen en août
1942 avec deux photos ;
Trois photos des clavettes de sécurité
des bombes tombées sur Rouen en mars 1943.
Liens
Lien vers
la collection de Frank MALIVOIR proposant des photos rares sur
les bombardements de Rouen en 1944 ;
Lien vers un site très documenté sur
la vie des hôpitaux de Rouen durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale : il
faut chercher dans la liste plusieurs entrées concernant la Seconde
Guerre mondiale (lien entré le 16.12.2023) ; Lien vers un site relatant l'histoire d'un équipage
de Lancaster qui a bombardé Rouen dans la nuit du 18 au
19 avril 1944 (lien entré le 20/08/2002).
Autre ouvrage signalé par Michel LEVEILLARD
:
Rouen et sa région pendant la guerre 1939 - 1945
par G. Pailhès / Defontaine Editeur à Rouen, s.d.
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