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Mission # 261

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 28 January 1945
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 261, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 809
Transportation Targeted
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) led the 41st B Combat Wing on today's mission. At takeoff, a snowstorm prevented three aircraft from taking off. However, once airborne, assembly was accomplished without difficulty. Nearing the IP, the group commander found the target area cloud covered, and his Gee-H equipment was inoperative. Therefore he chose to bomb the designated secondary (the city center) using PFF. The low squadron's Gee-H was working, so they bombed the primary with good results.
Primary Target Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Gee-H with Visual Assist)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 22
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 1
Scrubbed - 5
Failed To Return - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives

31 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
42‑37788[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 44‑6476.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38013Whitesides, John BScrubbed: Did Not Take OffGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑38757 when displaced by Ruckman. Did not take off due to snowstorm.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38208Tebo, Clerance LCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97592[Non-384th Pilot]Completed MissionLoaned to the 306th BG, with Gee-H navigator.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97960Kramer, William LeoCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑102501Spangler, George KnoxCompleted MissionLead Squadron hot camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102661[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑107125Zink, Joseph DarrellCompleted MissionGroup deputy; Gee-H ship.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑37917Baughman, John RScrubbed: Did Not Take OffLead Squadron hot camera ship. Did not take off due to snowstorm.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38501Tatulis, Charles PaulCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38630Bennett, Ralph JCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38647Ultcht, John PrestonCompleted MissionLow Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38673MacKellar, Donald AllenSpare, Completed MissionLead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38678Fletcher, Graydon JamesCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38747Milligan, George RobertSpare, Completed MissionLow Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38757Ruckman, George FrancisCompleted MissionOriginally assigned to Whitesides; taken by Ruckmman when he scrubbed 44‑6592.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38766Gregg, William GCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38994McKay, William MonroeCompleted MissionLanded away at RAF Manston, Kent, due to severe flak damage.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑39019Boyette, Irving HCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑39053Springsted, Donald GeorgeCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑39060Worthen, Kirk WinthropCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑39131Rush, Joseph HenryCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑6105Jackson, Oakley HomerFailed To ReturnDamaged by flak; sent SOS at 1320 and left formation under control; crashed near Ossenzijl, The Netherlands. MACR 11990
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6476Reed, Verlin DeanCompleted MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37788.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6514Patterson, Nelton DrewardCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑6590Sharp, Alan EScrubbed: Did Not Take OffDid not take off due to snowstorm.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6592[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by 43‑38757 - Ruckman displaced Whitesides from that aircraft.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8007Tuck, Sam GailCompleted MissionLow Squadron lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8008Kinnaird, William RobertCompleted MissionGroup lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8211[Non-384th Pilot]Completed MissionLoaned to the 401st BG, with Gee-H navigator.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8408Starr, William GeorgeCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT