SORTIE REPORT #5611
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑08‑09 176 533 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany
More Bad Weather: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three groups of the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing - except for three aircraft from the 303rd BG, which formed the high element of the high group - on today's mission. Although the division abandoned operations at the Dutch Coast due to bad weather, the 41st B carried on until after they had passed Aachen, at which point the weather had become impenetrable. The wing leader ordered the wing to attack the briefed target of last resort, which the lead and high groups accomplished. However, the low group's bombsight gyro 'tumbled' just before bombs away, so they went on to bomb a target of opportunity (TOO), a bridge over the River Nahe at Nohfelden, Germany.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: Low group. Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑37822, which was found to have a bad engine after takeoff. Returned to base and took off late, intercepting the formation at the English coast.
TOO (Visual)
Target: Railroad & Highway Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Nohfelden/Hoppstädten, Germany
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑97960 547th SO*M not known
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Commander Lane, Edward William GpHQ Completed, Uninjured
Pilot Allred, Frank Lavon 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator O'Sullivan, Timothy James 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Ward, Donald Leroy 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Drury, Eldon Boyd 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Bemis, Forrest James 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Mitchell, Robert McKinley, Jr 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Rafeld, Richard Eugene 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Redcay, Carl Harry 544 Completed, Uninjured
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
Photo1944-08-09, Low Group Lead, E. Lane, F. Allred
Sortie Report 5611 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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