SORTIE REPORT #1046
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1943‑12‑01 39 145 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany
Primary Target Attacked: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew today's mission under very challenging conditions. During initial climb in wing formation, the low squadron was forced to fly through a cloud layer with icing conditions. This caused three aircraft to fall out of position, which were then unable to return to the formation. Also, during most of the mission, flying speeds were excessively high - as much as 175 mph - causing fuel shortages on return.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Failed To Return
Comments: Group lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am. Shortly after turning back and crossing the coast a second engine died and the pilot turned back south to get over land so the crew could bail out. Bail outs started near the coast, and the aircraft crash-landed near Liesele, Belgium. MACR 1335
No Target Attacked
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME GROUND CREW CHIEF
B-17F 42‑30033 546th BK*G LITTLE AMERICA Foster, Ewing H
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Commander Dillingham, Maurice Stanley 547 POW/Wounded
Pilot Goulder, Edmund Samuel 547 POW
Navigator Harris, Arthur Claude 547 POW
Bombardier Boomhower, William (NMI) 545 POW
Radio Operator Sears, William Francis 547 POW/Wounded
Engineer/Top Turret Thomasson, Edward Arthmur 547 POW
Ball Turret Leslie, Claude Robert 547 Evaded
Tail Gunner Boyce, Ernest Marshall, Jr 547 POW
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Saunders, Paul Ralph 547 POW
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Vodilko, Michael Joseph 547 POW
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
MACRMissing Air Crew Report # 1335
ESCAPEEscape & Evasion Report # 733
Sortie Report 1046 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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