| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑10‑05 | 205 | 665 | Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany |
| Cologne / Köln Bombed: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st CBW B Group on today's mission. Each of the three squadrons comprising the group formation were assigned a different primary target. Bombing was planned to be by Gee-H aiming, but the targets were apparently beyond the range of the Gee-H signals. The lead group's target was a factory in Cologne, the High group's was an oil refinery in Monheim (near Cologne) and the low group's was the M.T. Factory of Ford Motor AG in Cologne. In the end, the city of Cologne itself felt the weight of the attack. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: Low Squadron. Shot down by FLAK. Aircraft peeled off and left formation prior to the target under control. The aircraft exploded and crashed near Dorsten, Germany, after some crewmembers bailed out. Note: MACR Interrogation Reports indicate Adams and Batte had switched positions. |
Secondary (PFF) Type: Non-Military Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 43‑38579 ⇗ | 545th | JD*F | not known |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Birckhead, Robert Bruce⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Co-pilot | Christian, Arthur Dean⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Navigator | Hedrick, Hilary Hann⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Togglier | Benson, Olin Ray⇗ | 544 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Taylor, William Edson⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Bianca, Buddy Armand⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Ball Turret | Vaniglia, Frank (NMI)⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Tail Gunner | Batte, Clyde DeLay⇗ | 545 | KIA |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Adams, Benjamin Harold⇗ | 545 | POW |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 9754⇗ |