SORTIE REPORT #3810
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑06‑08 131 400 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Railroads Targeted with Mixed Results: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three groups of the 41st C Combat Bombardment Wing (41C Wing) and the low group of the 41st D Combat Bombardment Wing (41D Group) on today's mission: these Wings were fifth and sixth of the eleven bomb Wings of Air Task Force #1. In support of the invasion force, bombers aimed to disrupt supply lines and materiel in railroad cars. Bombing by the 41C Wing was prevented by clouds over the primary target, so each group independently sought the secondary target, targets of opportunity (TOO), and last resort targets, which were all hidden by localized cloud cover, so attempts to bomb were abandoned and all bombers returned to base with their lethal loads. The 41D Group found their target in the clear: strike photos confirmed direct hits on the railroad bridge.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: 41D Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Bombed Primary Target.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME GROUND CREW CHIEF
B-17G 42‑102501 546th BK*H THE CHALLENGER Watterson, Arnold (NMI)
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Rucker, David Leroy 546 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Lippert, John Joseph 546 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Wehrman, James Butler 546 Completed, Uninjured
Togglier Brown, Steve (NMI) 546 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Marchini, Orland Victor 546 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Brazeal, Garnett Harold 546 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Bugaj, Steve (NMI), Jr 546 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Clark, Dale Arthur 546 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Leonard, Clifford (NMI) 546 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 3810 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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