| Serial Number: | 42-37822 |
| Name: |
THE 'LEAD BANANA' Initially named THE LED BANANA |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-15-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*C |
| Start Date: | 12 May 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 63 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 19 March 1945. Salvaged. |
| Related Documents: | Accident Report # 45-03-16-523⇓ (3.493 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-37822 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-37822 Del Long Beach 9/9/43; Gr Island 17/10/43; ass 544BS/384BG [SU-C] Grafton Underwood 12/5/44; on landing w/Ray Cook the undercarriage collapsed at RAF Ringway, UK (now Manchester Aprt) 16/3/45. Sal AFSC 19/3/45. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109⇗ | 19 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Lead group. Turned back at 1201 hrs; could not locate formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 110⇗ | 20 May 1944 | Target: Orly Airport Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 111⇗ | 21 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Group B. Turned back and landed at RAF Manston, Kent, due to failure of #2 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑37792. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 121⇗ | 31 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Colmar, France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑102620. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 123⇗ | 2 June 1944 | Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support Type: Military Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 125⇗ | 4 June 1944 | Target: Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 126⇗ | 5 June 1944 | Target: Field Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: La Fosse, France | Completed Mission | High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 128⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Two Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Caen, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 129⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Highway Choke Point in City of Caen Type: Transportation Location: Caen, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 | Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 131⇗ | 8 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France | Completed Mission | 41C Wing, High Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 132⇗ | 10 June 1944 | Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 | Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 | Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 136⇗ | 15 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: La Possonnièrre, France | Completed Mission | High Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 140⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 140⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 141⇗ | 20 June 1944 | Target: Oil Refineries Type: Oil Industry Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 142⇗ | 21 June 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Composite High Group. Pilot: Enge, 379th BG. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 144⇗ | 22 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Lille (Fives district), France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 145⇗ | 24 June 1944 | Target: German Vacuum Oil Company Type: Oil Industry Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 149⇗ | 30 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Montdidier, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 151⇗ | 6 July 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Coubronne, France | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 155⇗ | 11 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑107083. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 159⇗ | 17 July 1944 | Target: Beautor Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Beautor, France | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 161⇗ | 19 July 1944 | Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany | Completed Mission | High section lead, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 162⇗ | 20 July 1944 | Target: Aircraft Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany | Completed Mission | High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97263. Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 163⇗ | 21 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 164⇗ | 24 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 165⇗ | 25 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel, & La Chapelle en Juger, France | Completed Mission | High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 167⇗ | 29 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑37703. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 168⇗ | 31 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102459. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 169⇗ | 1 August 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 173⇗ | 5 August 1944 | Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Langenhagen, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | High group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 174⇗ | 7 August 1944 | Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dugny (Paris), France | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 177⇗ | 11 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 178⇗ | 12 August 1944 | Target: "Landing Ground" Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: La Perthe, France | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 179⇗ | 13 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Road Network Type: Transportation Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 180⇗ | 14 August 1944 | Target: Echterdingen Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Completed Mission | High group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 184⇗ | 25 August 1944 | Target: Airfield & Airpark Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Anklam, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 185⇗ | 26 August 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Lead group. Originally assigned as a flying spare with the Majeske Crew; did not take off. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 186⇗ | 30 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Crepieul, France | Completed Mission | Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 1 September 1944 | Ludwigshaven, Germany, RECALLED | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 188⇗ | 5 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 189⇗ | 8 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High group flying spare; joined formation, but turned back because he could not keep up with formation due to two supercharger failures; bombs returned to base. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 191⇗ | 10 September 1944 | Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant Type: Industry Location: Sindelfingen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 192⇗ | 11 September 1944 | Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Landed with bomb bay doors open. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 196⇗ | 19 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 197⇗ | 21 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mainz, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | C Wing, low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 199⇗ | 26 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Osnabrück, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 200⇗ | 27 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points) Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑38615. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 201⇗ | 28 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Magdeburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 44‑6141. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 202⇗ | 30 September 1944 | Target: Handorf Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Münster, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Lead group Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 204⇗ | 3 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 205⇗ | 5 October 1944 | Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑107148. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 206⇗ | 6 October 1944 | Target: M/T Factory Type: Industry Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland | Completed Mission | D group deputy Squadron lead. Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 207⇗ | 7 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 208⇗ | 9 October 1944 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 209⇗ | 11 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | First Squadron. Aborted due to defective manifold pressure in #3 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 212⇗ | 17 October 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 213⇗ | 18 October 1944 | Target: Ford Motor Works Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 214⇗ | 19 October 1944 | Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory Type: Industry Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 216⇗ | 30 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 220⇗ | 5 November 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | High Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 221⇗ | 6 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑38062. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 224⇗ | 10 November 1944 | Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 227⇗ | 20 November 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 231⇗ | 27 November 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Offenburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 233⇗ | 30 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Zeitz, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 234⇗ | 2 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 235⇗ | 4 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Soest, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 236⇗ | 6 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 237⇗ | 9 December 1944 | Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 238⇗ | 11 December 1944 | Target: Road & Rail Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 239⇗ | 12 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 240⇗ | 18 December 1944 | Target: Road Junction Type: Transportation Location: Gemünd, Germany | Flight Completed | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97150. Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 241⇗ | 19 December 1944 | Target: Railway Junction Type: Transportation Location: Glaadt, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Did not take off due to weather which deteriorated after lead aircraft took off. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 242⇗ | 23 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Ehrang, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Framlingham due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 246⇗ | 30 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Limburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 247⇗ | 31 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Neuss, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back; took off late, unable to find formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 248⇗ | 1 January 1945 | Target: Oil Storage Depot Type: Oil Industry Location: Derben, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 252⇗ | 7 January 1945 | Target: Enemy Strong Point Type: Military Location: Blankenheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 253⇗ | 8 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Type: Transportation Location: Kyllburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 254⇗ | 10 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bonn, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 256⇗ | 17 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: Bielefeld, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑37788. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 257⇗ | 20 January 1945 | Target: Rail and Road Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire (now Cambridgeshire). Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 260⇗ | 23 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Neuss, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 263⇗ | 1 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 264⇗ | 3 February 1945 | Target: Tempelhof Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 267⇗ | 15 February 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bohlen, Germany | Did Not Take Off | Did not take off because bad weather halted flight operations. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 17 February 1945 | Mannheim, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 271⇗ | 22 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Ülzen, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑38801. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 273⇗ | 24 February 1945 | Target: Submarine Construction Shipyard Type: Shipyards Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 274⇗ | 25 February 1945 | Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory Type: Industry Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | High Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 275⇗ | 26 February 1945 | Target: Schlesicher Railroad Station (Bahnhof) Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 279⇗ | 2 March 1945 | Target: Low Temperature Carbonization Plant and Refinery of Deutsche Petroleum A.G. Type: Oil Industry Location: Rositz, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Dunsfold, Surrey, due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 280⇗ | 3 March 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Misburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑38630. Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 281⇗ | 4 March 1945 | Target: Ordnance Depot Type: Military Location: Ulm, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 285⇗ | 10 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Schwerte, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑38501. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 286⇗ | 11 March 1945 | Target: Vacuum Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bremen, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑38801; then replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑107148. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 287⇗ | 12 March 1945 | Target: Railway Center Type: Transportation Location: Betzdorf, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 16 March 1945 | Training (Non-Combat) | Crashed In Allied Territory | Right main landing gear collapsed after a hard landing at RAF Ringway. There were no injuries to personnel. Sortie Report ⇗ |