| Serial Number: | 42-37982 |
| Name: | TREMBLING GREMLIN |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-20-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*K |
| Start Date: | 21 January 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 61 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 19 September 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Comments: | Appearing in many documents as "THE TREMBLIN' GREMLIN" photos of this aircraft showing the name painted on the co-pilot's (right) side of the nose all depict the name as "TREMBLING GREMLIN". It should be noted that aircraft names were unofficial: they were not approved or registered, and only appeared in reports and personal accounts as secondary identification. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-37982 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-37982 Del Denver 3/11/43; Gr Island 12/11/43; ass 544BS/384BG [SU-K] Grafton Underwood 21/1/44; MIA Hamm 19/9/44 w/Joe Carnes, W. Wyatt, A. Benjamin, R. Chanter, C. Ford, F.Shick, J. King, R.Panici, E. Lucynski, MACR not known. THE TREMBLIN' GREMLIN. |
| Bits & Pieces: | 237982 384 544 SU K Tremblin' Gremlin 03 11 43 AI 13 12 43 AOS 21 01 44 G 06 08 44 AF Halesworth RG 25 08 44 19 09 44 FTR - Lt Joe R. Carnes Jr. - |
| Research Notes: | 2018-08-29 RFP Changed name to "TREMBLING GREMLIN" and added some comments. |
| (more...) | |
| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55⇗ | 29 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 56⇗ | 30 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 69⇗ | 2 March 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 70⇗ | 3 March 1944 | Target: Roller-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back because the oil pressure in #3 engine dropped, causing severe vibration; could not feather prop. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 71⇗ | 4 March 1944 | Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 72⇗ | 6 March 1944 | Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 73⇗ | 8 March 1944 | Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 74⇗ | 9 March 1944 | Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 75⇗ | 16 March 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 76⇗ | 18 March 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron, high composite group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 77⇗ | 19 March 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Wizernes, France | Completed Mission | Forced out of formation after first bomb run due to loss of #4 engine; did not bomb. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 81⇗ | 24 March 1944 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 86⇗ | 9 April 1944 | Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Marienburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Halesworth, Suffolk, on return due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 90⇗ | 18 April 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 91⇗ | 19 April 1944 | Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 92⇗ | 20 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | B Wing, High Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 21 April 1944 | Leuna, Germany, RECALLED | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 93⇗ | 22 April 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 95⇗ | 25 April 1944 | Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Metz, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 96⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 99⇗ | 1 May 1944 | Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France | Completed Mission | Went over target but did not release bombs because of 9/10th haze and undercast. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 100⇗ | 4 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑31235. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 101⇗ | 7 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 103⇗ | 8 May 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 106⇗ | 12 May 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 108⇗ | 15 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 109⇗ | 19 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Landed away at RAF Oulton, Norfolk, on return due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 111⇗ | 21 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Returned To Base | Group B Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 113⇗ | 23 May 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | 41A Group Flying Spare. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 114⇗ | 24 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Military Installations Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 115⇗ | 25 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 116⇗ | 27 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 118⇗ | 28 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 119⇗ | 29 May 1944 | Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 123⇗ | 2 June 1944 | Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support Type: Military Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 125⇗ | 4 June 1944 | Target: Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 126⇗ | 5 June 1944 | Target: Field Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: La Fosse, France | Completed Mission | High Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 128⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Two Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Caen, France | Completed Mission | L Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 | Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France | Completed Mission | Low Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 131⇗ | 8 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France | Completed Mission | 41C Wing, High Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 132⇗ | 10 June 1944 | Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 133⇗ | 12 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 | Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France | Completed Mission | Landed away at Kings Cliffe, AAF Station 367, on return, due to bad weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 | Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France | Completed Mission | 41B Wing, Low Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 138⇗ | 18 June 1944 | Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles Type: Oil Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 139⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 142⇗ | 21 June 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Composite High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 144⇗ | 22 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Lille (Fives district), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 146⇗ | 25 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment Type: Transportation Location: Sens, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead, low group, 41st A wing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 148⇗ | 28 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France | Completed Mission | High group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 150⇗ | 4 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 151⇗ | 6 July 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Coubronne, France | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 153⇗ | 7 July 1944 | Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High Squadron deputy, high group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; tacked on to the low group of the 41st B wing and bombed with them. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 154⇗ | 8 July 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Renescure, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 155⇗ | 11 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 156⇗ | 12 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 158⇗ | 16 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 159⇗ | 17 July 1944 | Target: Beautor Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Beautor, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 160⇗ | 18 July 1944 | Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 161⇗ | 19 July 1944 | Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany | Completed Mission | High section deputy, high group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 162⇗ | 20 July 1944 | Target: Aircraft Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 163⇗ | 21 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Lead group. Turned back over England because he could not locate formation after taking off late - navigator had overslept, and in his report stated he had difficulty performing navigation tasks. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 164⇗ | 24 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 166⇗ | 28 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 167⇗ | 29 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 168⇗ | 31 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 169⇗ | 1 August 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France | Completed Mission | High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 172⇗ | 4 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Crepieul, France | Completed Mission | This aircraft carried delayed-action bombs which were jettisoned in the Channel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 173⇗ | 5 August 1944 | Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Langenhagen, Germany | Completed Mission | A flak shell exploded beside the nose of "Tremblin Gremlin" on the bomb run. "I'm hit" said the bombardier, 1st Lt. Marvin Fryden, but he remained at his bombsight until bombs-away, then collapsed. He had been hit in the chest, and subsequently died of his wounds. Schwery (pilot) and Seeley (TT) were also wounded, and the plane was severely damaged, barely making it back to England to land at Halesworth, AAF Station 365, on two engines, with no brakes, and many flak holes. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 189⇗ | 8 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 194⇗ | 13 September 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑37713. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 195⇗ | 17 September 1944 | Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical Type: Military Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands | Completed Mission | F Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 196⇗ | 19 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Landed In Allied Territory | Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation; aircraft struck by flak just before the IP; after dropping bombs on target, left formation, apparently under control; crew bailed out over Binche, Bel.; all crew returned to duty except ball turret gunner and tail gunner who were seriously injured. Sortie Report ⇗ |