| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑01‑04 | 49 | 174 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany |
| Port Attacked: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the High Group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Bombs were released on the wing leader using PFF aiming. The group leader released his bombs late due to 'freezing of the controls,' but the majority of the group released bombs on the wing lead. The target area was obscured by clouds so the results of the bombing were unobserved. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: Group lead. Wagner Fell out of the bomb bay shortly after the target while trying to release the bombs, after the "entire bomb release malfunctioned." The crew reported there was only one walkaround oxygen bottle aboard, and no bail-out bottles. Wagner revived during the fall and opened his parachute. He was captured after landing, becoming a POW. |
Primary (PFF) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | |||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME | GROUND CREW CHIEF |
| B-17G | 42‑37848 ⇗ | 546th | BK*E | SISSY | Jacobs, Gilbert Oren |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Commander | Nuttall, Alfred Charles⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Pilot | Estes, Thomas Jefferson⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | DuBois, John Jay⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Baggs, Joseph William⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Wagner, Fred S⇗ | 544 | POW/Wounded |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Cochran, David Leon⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Ursta, George (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Mills, William J (IO), Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Self, James Melvin, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | McDuffie, Burton Curtis⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| Photo | 1944-01-04, Group Lead, A. Nuttall, T. Estes |