| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑02‑20 | 63 | 226 | Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany |
| Big Week Begins!: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided two group formations for today's operation as part of 8th Air Force Mission 226, Task Force 1. One group led the 41st A Combat Bombardment Wing (41A Group), while the other flew as the low group of the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing (41B Group). Despite cloudy weather most of the way to the targets, they were bombed visually. The 41A Group bombed their assigned primary target, an aircraft assembly and repair facility near Leipzig, Germany. The 41B Group Bombed their assigned target, an aircraft assembly plant near Bernberg, Germany. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| No |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off. Comments: 41A Group. Turned back with #1 engine out. Tail wheel inoperative; failed to retract or extend. Significant damage to tail area. |
N/A |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑97521 ⇗ | 545th | JD*H | THE SAINT |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Pryor, Raymond Thomas⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Co-pilot | Helmley, Loyd Elmer⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Navigator | Harmon, Frank James⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Bombardier | McGovern, Vincent James⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Radio Operator | Hopper, Hugh David⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Dudley, John Charles⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Ball Turret | Stauffer, Karl Fred⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Tail Gunner | Coppage, Raymond Donald⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Polito, Michael John⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | LaBelle, Joseph Adrian⇗ | 545 | Aborted |