SORTIE REPORT #3853
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, Group Lead. Bombed Primary Target.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME GROUND CREW CHIEF
B-17G 42‑38014 546th BK*G LITTLE AMERICA II Foster, Ewing H
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Commander Stallings, Gordon Kenneth 546 Completed, Uninjured
Pilot Smith, Charles Grover 546 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Kobes, Eugene Paul 546 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Mechling, Robert Paul 546 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Burton, Stanley Charles 546 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Rowe, Kenmore Edward 546 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Avilez, George (NMI), Jr 546 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Haning, John Milton 546 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Wise, Robert Francis 546 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 3853 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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