| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1945‑03‑26 | 298 | 915 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Zeitz, Germany |
| Weather, Equipment, Turbulence: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st Bomb Wing B Group on today's mission. On initial approach to the target area, the division leader decided to attack the #2 target. After making two unsuccessful PFF runs on that target - foiled by equipment difficulties and prop-wash - the 384th decided to head directly for the #4 target, which the lead and high squadrons attacked. The low squadron again ran into prop-wash, which prevented accurate bombing, so they proceeded to attack a target of opportunity (TOO) at Würzburg, Germany by visual means. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Crashed In Allied Territory Comments: Running short of fuel, attempted to land at an emergency airfield near Cranbrook, Kent, but crashed in Brewers Wood, on Hawkridge Farm near Cranbrook, Kent ('500 yards North of Hargridge House'). The pilot was killed and two crewman were injured seriously. |
N/A |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | |||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME | GROUND CREW CHIEF |
| B-17G | 44‑6109 ⇗ | 545th | JD*Q | OLE TULIK | Jacobs, Edward Gregory |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Jordan, Theodore Gustav⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Co-pilot | Schumacher, Elmer Ray⇗ | 545 | Seriously Wounded |
| Navigator | Kyllo, Orville Eldon⇗ | 545 | Wounded |
| Togglier | O'Bryan, William Herbert, Jr⇗ | 545 | Wounded |
| Radio Operator | Thompson, James R⇗ | 545 | Wounded |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Rieder, John Charles⇗ | 545 | Seriously Wounded |
| Ball Turret | Colburn, Cecil Robert⇗ | 545 | Wounded |
| Tail Gunner | Schwertfeger, Norman Henry⇗ | 545 | Wounded |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Bianconi, Natale Pasquale⇗ | 545 | Wounded |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| ACCIREP | Accident Report # 45-03-26-525⇗ |