| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑09‑23 | 25 | 101 | Target: Submarine Repair Ship Type: Submarine Facility Location: Nantes, France |
| Ship Attacked; Results Uncertain: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew one group of 18 aircraft as the Low Group of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing on today's mission. The specific objective was a ship believed to be a floating repair shop for submarines, located in the Nantes, France, port area. Bombs were dropped using visual aiming, with undetermined results. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: Shot down by enemy aircraft shortly after crossing the coast of France, crashed near Pontivy, France; MACR 748. Co-pilot Ritt was pilot of a newly assigned crew, flying his first orientation mission. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | |||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME | GROUND CREW CHIEF |
| B-17F | 42‑3459 ⇗ | 546th | BK*F | JOLLY ROGER | Coon, Lawrence John |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Higdon, Philip Earl⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Co-pilot | Ritt, Louis Eskel⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Navigator | Begab, Meyer (NMI)⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Bombardier | Johnston, Lawrence Edwin⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Bollinger, Ardell Henry⇗ | 546 | Evaded |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Jett, James Loveless⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Ball Turret | Kalas, Joseph Markus⇗ | 546 | Evaded |
| Tail Gunner | Humphrey, Edward James⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Cronin, Willard John⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Kelly, Leonard Joseph⇗ | 546 | Evaded |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 748⇗ |
| ESCAPE | Escape & Evasion Report # 335⇗ |
| ESCAPE | Escape & Evasion Report # 336⇗ |
| ESCAPE | Escape & Evasion Report # 337⇗ |