SORTIE REPORT #1857
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑02‑22 65 230 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Big Week, Day Three: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided two group formations for today's missions. One formed the high group of the 41st A Combat Bombardment Wing (41A Group), and the other formed the high group of the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing (41B Group).The 41A Group lost its formation when forced to fly into clouds during assembly: the entire group aborted, and all bombs were returned to base rather than being dropped at Halberstadt. The 41B Group attacked their primary target at Aschersleben, but while bombs appeared to strike in the target area, heavy smoke from prior groups made assessment difficult.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Failed To Return
Comments: 41B Group. Shot down in vigorous attacks by 10-15 Me-109s or a heavy flak barrage between 1230 and 1300 hrs near Münster, Germany; crashed near Oostrum (just east of Venray), The Netherlands. MACR 2467
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑39809 547th SO*M not known
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot McDonald, Raymond Leroy 547 POW
Co-pilot Smith, Paul Matthew, Jr 547 KIA
Navigator Kontur, William John 547 POW
Bombardier Bean, George Henry 547 POW
Radio Operator Franzo, Anthony Joseph 547 POW
Engineer/Top Turret Pierce, Lee Clifton 547 POW/Wounded
Ball Turret Egger, Richard Henry 547 POW
Tail Gunner Egger, Robert Ross 547 POW
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Odom, Rufus Thurman, Jr 547 POW
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Gabriel, Daniel (NMI) 547 POW
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
MACRMissing Air Crew Report # 2467
Sortie Report 1857 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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