SORTIE REPORT #964
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1943‑11‑16 36 131 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Several Bomb Runs: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) led the 41st Combat Wing and 1st Bomb Division on today's mission. From the Division Leader's Narrative: 'We dropped down to 14,000 feet to bomb and did not drop any lower because the low Group would be in the clouds. We could not find the target. None of the other Groups seemed to be able to find it either, so we went back out to the coastline to orient ourselves. We came back in, and thought we were on the target, but we were not sure, so we did not drop our bombs. We made three more bomb runs on the target trying to release our bombs, but they would not release, so on the last run we had our Deputy drop his bombs on signal from the lead plane, and the others dropped on him.'
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: Landed away at RAF Catfoss, Yorks.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17F 42‑3440 544th SU*B BROADWAY ROSE
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Merritt, James Melvin 544 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Hurley, Joseph Anthony 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Drogue, Arthur Joseph, Jr 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Henningsen, Peter Victor 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Schwandt, Lawrence Clarence 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Chmielecki, Stanley Anthony 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Bothwell, William (NMI) 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Hope, Leroy Hunter 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Bumpers, Frederick Scott 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Fitzpatrick, Frank Joseph 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 964 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 28 March 2024, 12:52 PM (PDT)
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