SORTIE REPORT #4021
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑06‑14 135 412 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Clouds Cover Primary: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing (41B Wing) and the High Group of the 41st D Combat Bombardment Wing (41D Group) on today's mission. The primary and secondary targets of the 41B Wing were hidden by 10/10 cloud cover, so a target of opportunity (TOO), the airfield at Creil, was bombed by the Lead and High groups: the Low group was forced out of position by sudden maneuvers by the Wing Lead and were unable to follow him on the bomb run to the TOO, resulting in no attack by the Low Group. The High and Low groups returned to England in formation with the Wing ahead of them in the bomber stream. Weather prevented the 41D Group from attacking the primary. After three runs on the primary target, contact with the Lead group was lost, and a decision was made to attempt to find the secondary target. However, weather conditions there were similar, so all bombs were returned to base. Also, because this group had lost contact with its Wing, it returned to base alone.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: 41B Wing, Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
TOO (Visual)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Criel, France
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME GROUND CREW CHIEF
B-17G 42‑97139 546th BK*M FLAK HOPPER McKinney, Lauren Lee
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Meland, Ralph Wendell 546 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Endelicato, Marion (NMI) 546 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Simmons, Wilbur (NMI) 546 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Leahy, Leo Alton 546 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Schmitz, Michael Adam 546 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Knowles, Ralph Sheridan, Jr 546 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Turner, William Eugene 546 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Sinski, Ignatius J 546 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Builta, William B 546 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 4021 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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