Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Serial Number: | 41-24560 |
| Name: | LITTLE AUDREY |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-25-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*A |
| Start Date: | 5 September 1943. Transferred: Received from the 306th BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 18 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 15 March 1944. Transferred: Sent to 1 BAD, Burtonwood. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 41-24560 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 41-24560 Assigned to the 368th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code BO-D, 306th Bombardment Group at New Castle Army Air Field, Delaware on 4 October 1942. Moved to Thurleigh, Station 111, UK on 26 October 1942. Subsequently transferred to the 369th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code WW- ?, Transferred to the 544th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code SU-A, 384th Bombardment Group at Grafton Underwood, Station 106, UK on 5 September 1943. Transferred to the 1st Base Air Depot (BAD) at Burtonwood, UK on 15 March 1944. Returned to the US at Homestead, Florida on 14 June 1944. Transferred to the Reclamation Finance Center (RFC) at Arledge Field, Stamford, Texas on 23 November 1944 and sold for scrap. Name: LITTLE AUDREY |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24⇗ | 16 September 1943 | Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River) Type: Transportation Location: Nantes, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back; unable to locate formation after passing through cloud layer. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 September 1943 | Nantes, France, RECALLED | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 26⇗ | 27 September 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑30005. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 27⇗ | 2 October 1943 | Target: Port Facilities Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 28⇗ | 4 October 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back due to oxygen filler line to ball turret broken off and top turret filler line leaking, after having aborted 42‑5444 immediately after takeoff. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 29⇗ | 8 October 1943 | Target: Workshops Type: Submarine Facility Location: Bremen, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑5444. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 30⇗ | 9 October 1943 | Target: Aircraft Factories Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Anklam, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 13 October 1943 | Emden, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 32⇗ | 14 October 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back. Landed away at Ridgewell. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 33⇗ | 20 October 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Düren, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 34⇗ | 3 November 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑3429. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| --⇗ | 13 November 1943 | Bremen, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 36⇗ | 16 November 1943 | Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine Type: Industry Location: Knaben, Norway | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back due to loose oil line on prop governor
FLIGHT TIME 7:30 Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 42⇗ | 13 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 43⇗ | 16 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37758. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 44⇗ | 20 December 1943 | Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 46⇗ | 24 December 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Croisette, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 47⇗ | 30 December 1943 | Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Composite Squadron; turned back at 1016 hrs because of oxygen failure in top turret; system dropped to zero and after it was recharged to 250 lbs it again dropped to 120 lbs in 15 mins; 18 M47A1s rtd Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 48⇗ | 31 December 1943 | Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship) Type: Transportation Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37885. Landed at RAF Harwell, Berkshire, with bombs. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 49⇗ | 4 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 50⇗ | 5 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 54⇗ | 21 January 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Preuseville, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 January 1944 | Frankfurt am Main, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | A Grp Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 56⇗ | 30 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Low group high Squadron. Did not take off. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 57⇗ | 3 February 1944 | Target: Submarines (under construction) Type: Submarine Facility Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Turned back after crossing enemy coast because #2 supercharger went out. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 59⇗ | 5 February 1944 | Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Orleans, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 60⇗ | 6 February 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 63⇗ | 20 February 1944 | Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | 41B Group. Turned back at 0905 hrs due to complete loss of power in #1 engine; aircraft took off a second time but could not catch up with group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 64⇗ | 21 February 1944 | Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Werl, Germany | Completed Mission | FLIGHT TIME 7:30 Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 66⇗ | 24 February 1944 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 67⇗ | 25 February 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants Type: Industry Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany | Completed Mission | 41C Group, High Squadron, Lead Group. Landed away at RAF Desborough, Northamptonshire, on return due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |