| 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 |
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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. |
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| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: Damaged when struck by flak during a second run over the target. Number 3 engine started smoking badly and leaking oil, so fuel was shut off and the propeller feathered; number 1 engine supercharger was also disabled, and the hydraulic and oxygen systems had also been damaged. This damage caused the plane to lose speed and altitude, drop back from the formation and return to base alone. The hydraulic system appeared to hold pressure during the return and the landing gear was visually checked when crossing the North Sea towards England. During landing, hydraulic oil leaked from the damaged right brake causing complete loss of braking pressure. Use of the hand pump and engine power failed to act sufficiently to prevent a ground loop and collision with the tail of parked B-17G 42-38013, causing substantial damage to the forward fuselage of this aircraft and to the tail of the other. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 43‑39138 ⇗ | 544th | SU*G | not known |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Grove, Alfred W⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Hoban, Merrill D⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Hamilton, Frederick Reeves⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Togglier | Brubaker, James Melvin⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Fulmer, LeRoy Edward⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Marwitz, Raymann Alvin⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Clements, William H, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Photographer | Plont, George John⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| ACCIREP | Accident Report # 45-04-25-702⇗ |