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Mission # 159

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 17 July 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Show Operations
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 159, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 478
Myriad Problems
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three group formations of the 41st C Combat Bombardment Wing for today's mission. The bombardier of the lead group could not pick up the primary target on the first bomb run - and his intercom was out so the pilot's orders went unheard, resulting in the lead group's bombs being dropped on Laon, France, Marshalling Yards. Meanwhile, the high group had similar trouble picking up the primary target, and went around for a second run with the same result, but with heavy flak. The high group leader then selected a last resort target, a bridge in Eu, France, and the group dropped their bombs there. The low group released their bombs on the first bomb run, but apparently aimed them at a nearby railroad bridge in 'Vouël' (Tergnier), France.
Primary Target Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Target Attacked (Mode) Various Targets Attacked, See Individual Sorties
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 34
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 3
Scrubbed - 1
Aborted - 2
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives

40 AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED TO THIS MISSION
Table is sorted by Pilot, and may be sorted by any column: click the column head.
Aircraft Pilot Results Mission/Sortie Information
42‑31484Spiers, Paul RobertCompleted MissionLow Squadron lead, high group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37822Combs, William FelixCompleted MissionLead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37974Halasz, John JuliusCompleted MissionLead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37982[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑38013[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffLow group. Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑37703.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38014[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑38208Stevens, Raymond RobertCompleted MissionLow group deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑39888Patella, Joseph DavidCompleted MissionLead group. Hot camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97142Pranger, Nicholas VincentCompleted MissionLow group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97150Hale, Charles EugeneCompleted MissionLow Squadron lead, low group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97178McGee, Leonard VincentCompleted MissionHigh group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97201Lynch, Edward ThomasCompleted MissionLow group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97204Pring, Robert BradfordCompleted MissionLow group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97237MacFarlane, Menzies JamesCompleted MissionLow Squadron deputy, low group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97251Menke, Robert ArthurCompleted MissionHigh group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97271Heim, Gerard AnthonyAborted Mission After Taking Off.High group. Turned back at 0846 hrs due to #2 runaway prop.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97282Cole, Alfred HoltonAborted Mission After Taking Off.Lead group. Turned back at 0850 hrs due to #2 runaway prop.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97449Mount, Dick WilsonCompleted MissionLow group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97510Jennings, William CorneliusCompleted MissionHigh section deputy, low group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97521[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑97824Lane, Edward WilliamCompleted MissionWing lead. Landed away at RAF Manston, Kent, due to battle damage.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97941Keate, Richard CliffordCompleted MissionHigh group lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97948Gibson, James AllenCompleted MissionHigh section lead, low group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97960Shelley, John KeithCompleted MissionLow group lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102459Allred, Frank LavonCompleted MissionLow Squadron deputy, lead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102500Myrick, Kenneth DelayCompleted MissionHigh section lead, lead group. Hot camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102501Donohue, William RobertCompleted MissionHigh section deputy, high group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102518Herzog, John HenryCompleted MissionHigh group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102566Minor, Henry WCompleted MissionHigh group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102601Strand, Robert EarlCompleted MissionHigh section deputy, lead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102617Rimbold, Arthur ArimeseCompleted MissionLead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102620Endelicato, Marion (NMI)Completed MissionLead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102661Kelley, Robert EncilCompleted MissionWing deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102959James, Robert HueyCompleted MissionLow Squadron lead, lead group.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107148Bean, Arthur ECompleted MissionHigh group deputy. Hot camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑37703Dudock, Edward PeterCompleted MissionLow group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑38013.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑37713Stills, James VernonCompleted MissionHigh section lead, high group.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑37717Liebert, Jack LouisCompleted MissionHigh group.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6135Farra, Robert LeslieCompleted MissionHigh group.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6149Griggs, Frederick MonroeCompleted MissionLow group.
SORTIE REPORT