SORTIE REPORT #11448
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1945‑04‑25 316 968 Target: Skoda Armament Works
Type: Industry
Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
THE LAST ONE!: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing C Group in Air Task Force 1 on today's mission, the last strategic bombing mission of the war in Europe. Under strict orders to bomb by visual means only, the Lead and Low Squadrons made two bomb runs, and the High Squadron made three. Results appeared to be good, and the delay resulted in the 384th dropping the final bombs of the war on Axis targets in Europe.
It was not known that this would be the last strategic bombing mission of WWII in the ETO until well after this mission ended.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: Low Squadron Hot Camera ship. Landed away at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, on return with hydraulics out due to battle damage.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑97824 544th SU*U not known
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Knaur, John S, III 544 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Gustafson, Charles L 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Woodward, Raymond B 544 Completed, Uninjured
Togglier Lutton, Walter Clarence, Jr 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Poe, Henry Ford 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Paschkowski, Stanley (NMI) 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Schwartz, George Elmer 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Chamberlain, Leon D 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 11448 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 28 March 2024, 3:57 AM (PDT)
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