| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑02‑03 | 57 | 206 | Target: Submarines (under construction) Type: Submarine Facility Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
| Challenging Weather: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) was assigned to lead the bomber stream of six combat bombardment wings as the lead and low groups of the 41st A Combat Bombardment Wing (41A Wing). Due to clouds in the assembly area, the low group lost contact with the lead group, finally tacking on to the 303rd Bomb Group in the 41B Wing. Bombs were dropped using PFF aiming of the lead ship. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: Lead Group. Ball turret gunner, Donald Ivan Collins, 'fell through' ball turret at 1232 hrs, 12,000ft, over enemy territory; he was not wearing a parachute. No MACR has been found; there is a "Battle Casualty Report" in the mission S-1 documents. Collins' name is engaved on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England |
Primary (PFF) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑31495 ⇗ | 544th | SU*R | WABBIT TWACKS |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Herbert, Joseph Robert, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Farthing, Frank (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Meyer, Robert Herman⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Zebrowski, Joseph Anthony⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Carroll, Ralph Gordon⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Boone, James Douglas, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Collins, Donald Ivan⇗ | 544 | MIA |
| Tail Gunner | Van Riper, Charles (NMI), Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Buckley, Arthur Joseph⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Narog, John (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |