| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1945‑01‑02 | 249 | 776 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gerolstein, Germany |
| Transportation Targeted: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st Combat Wing A Group on today's mission. The group leader's Gee-H equipment failed prior to the IP, so the high squadron led the group on the bomb run. The group did not bomb on the first run as the bombardier was not able to synchronize the bombsight to the target when visual conditions occurred too close to the bomb release point. A second run was made and bombs were released by visual means, but may have gone wide of the intended target. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: Group lead. with Lt. Col William C Sipes of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing as Air Commander. PFF & Gee-H ship. Gee-H failed prior to IP; turned over lead to high Squadron. Did not attack target because bombardier noticed, approaching the bomb release point (high Squadron leading), that they were a mile to the left of the target. Bombs were held with the intention of making another run, but the remainder of the group had dropped on the high Squadron leader. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 44‑8221 ⇗ | 547th | SO*X | not known |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Kinnaird, William Robert⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Rovero, Aldo John⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Bell, Albert (NMI)⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Sarto, Joseph Michael⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Burcham, Eugene Emmons⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Palecek, George Frank⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Harfman, Lavern Frank⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Pluhar, Emil Edward⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Darby, Phillip Storey⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Marmozewicz, Joseph J⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |