* There were actually two raids against Nantes on September 23^rd, one in the morning by six B-17 groups, and a late afternoon mission by two groups in which the 303^rd took part. Tragically, the only result was to raise the total number of French casualties for the missions on September 16 and 23 to 1423 civilian fatalities and over 2500 wounded. Serge Lebourg’s research confirms that the Kertosono was not destroyed.

A further raid against the city was dispatched on September 26, 1943, but was recalled due to overcast weather. On the way back Sgt. Eddie Deerfield’s crew was forced to bail out of Lady Luck, B-17F 42-5434, when her No. 3 engine ran away and caught fire as the aircraft approached the English coast near Southhampton. The plane crashed and burned with a full bomb load near Alresford. The only serious injury was to Capt. Robt. Cogswell, who was the last to leave the ship. He suffered back injuries which grounded him for the rest of the war. Eddie Deerfield continued flying until May 11, 1944, when he completed a tour of thirty missions.