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Mission # 89

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 13 April 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 89, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 301
Primary Attacked, Huge Losses
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Vicious fighter attacks knocked down nine of our aircraft - the greatest one mission loss for the Group during the war - but the bombers were able to attack the assigned target with good results.
Primary Target Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 9
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 1
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 2
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 4
Aborted - 2
Failed To Return - 9
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives

27 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
42‑3441[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑31048Miller, Max JeanFailed To ReturnShot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed near Mannheim, Germany. MACR 3866
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31211Berbrich, John MartinCompleted MissionHigh Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31222Gekakis, AnthonyAborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back at 1157 hrs because #1 engine was running rough and smoking.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31433Stearns, Clarence GroverFailed To ReturnHigh group lead. Shot down by enemy aircraft at 1350 hrs; hits scored on #3 engine, which was immediately feathered, and gas tank; entire right wing broke into a mass of flames; crashed near Gumpen, Germany. MACR 3867
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31484[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑37792[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑37816Heffley, Farris OrmondFailed To ReturnShot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed Rambucourt, France. MACR 3868.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38014Decker, Charles EdgarAborted Mission After Taking Off.High Squadron lead; turned back at 1228 hrs (after entering enemy territory) because #3 engine was losing oil and the prop had to be feathered.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38112Fioretti, Edward AnthonyFailed To ReturnShot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed near Lindenfels, Germany. MACR 3869
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38208Bennett, Phillip NathanCompleted MissionHigh group deputy; led mission after high group lead went down.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97072Wright, James WileySpare, Completed MissionFlying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97124Swanson, Herbert TureFailed To ReturnShot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed near Bérismenil, Belgium. MACR 3870
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97139Courtemanche, Ralph EudorCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97142June, Glenn JosephCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97178Helmley, Loyd ElmerFlying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT
42‑97201MacKichan, William GrahamCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97204Brouillard, Richard VernonCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97228Poole, George IrvinFailed To ReturnShot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed near Messbach, Germany. MACR 3871
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97231Tollison, Verlyn ChanceFailed To ReturnShot down by Me-109s near Coblenz at 1320 hrs; crashed near Reichenbach, Odenwald, Germany. MACR 3872
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97233Briley, Scott AndrewFailed To ReturnShot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed near Vielbrunn, Germany (27 km south of Aschaffenburg). MACR 3874
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97251Smith, Charles GroverCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97274Lavin, James RobertFailed To ReturnHit by direct flak burst in left wing tanks at 1545 hrs on the return from attacking the target; large holes were seen in #1 and #2 engines whereupon the plane exploded in mid-air; crashed near Fouleng, Belgium. MACR 3873.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97309Bennett, Dewayne (NMI)Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97449[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑97510Horton, Lloyd (NMI)Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑107058Gowder, Charles FredFlying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT