| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑03‑19 | 77 | 266 | Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Wizernes, France |
| Traffic Conflict & Equipment Failure: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the low group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Weather at the target was clear. On the first bomb run, the high group took position immediately above the 384th, so Major Harris led the Group on a 360-degree turn to avoid their bombs. On the second bomb run, the lead aircraft's AFCES (autopilot) went out and the run was completed with the pilot flying manually following PDI guidance: bombing accuracy was poor. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: Aircraft hit by flak immediately after bombs away; later observed spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft; four chutes emerged, with one on fire; crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, a very small village, near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France. MACR 3242 |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑31926 ⇗ | 545th | JD*G | LOVELL'S HOVEL |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Lovell, James MacNaughton⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Co-pilot | Brookings, Walter Francis⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Navigator | Lewis, Joseph Franklyn⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Bombardier | Bachicha, Martin Paul⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Deftos, Minot Fred⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Fowlkes, Calvin Oscar Lewis⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Ball Turret | Johnson, James Hansel, Jr⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Tail Gunner | Kardos, Louis Julius⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Oldham, Jesse Zera⇗ | 545 | POW/Wounded |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Blankenship, Doye Herman⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 3242⇗ |