B-17G 42-97271

Aircraft Details

Serial Number: 42-97271
Name: BOSS LADY
Manufacturer: Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-45-BO, Natural Metal Finish
Squadron: 545th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code: 545th‑JD*A
Start Date: 25 April 1944. New Replacement AC.
Missions: This aircraft was credited with 87 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date: 20 March 1945. Failed to return from combat operations.
Related Documents:Missing Air Crew Report # 13565 (13.331 MB)
Photo Album: Aircraft 42-97271 Photo Album
(more...)

B-17G Aircraft 42-97271 Was Assigned To 99 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 87 Of Them
Number Date Target Results Mission/Sortie Information
9627 April 1944Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
1004 May 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead, lead group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report
1028 May 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionGroup lead.
Sortie Report
--10 May 1944Ehrang, Germany, RECALLEDGround Spare Aircraft, Unused 
10511 May 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
10612 May 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
10815 May 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
10919 May 1944Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare aircraft 42‑37788.
Sortie Report
11121 May 1944Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Returned To BaseGroup B.
Sortie Report
11323 May 1944Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Completed MissionGround Spare aircraft; replaced 42‑107083.
Sortie Report
11424 May 1944Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group.
Sortie Report
11627 May 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Completed MissionLow Group.
Sortie Report
11828 May 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
11929 May 1944Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Completed Mission Sortie Report
12030 May 1944Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1232 June 1944Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1243 June 1944Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1254 June 1944Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1265 June 1944Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France
Completed MissionLow Group.
Sortie Report
1276 June 1944Target: Rocket Gun Installation
Type: Military
Location: 'Meuvaines' (actually, 1.3 miles SE of Crépon), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1307 June 1944Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1318 June 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Completed Mission41C Wing.
Sortie Report
13312 June 1944Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
13413 June 1944Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back over Deenethorpe when #4 engine caught fire and could not be feathered.
Sortie Report
13615 June 1944Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
13716 June 1944Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
13818 June 1944Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Completed Mission41A Group.
Sortie Report
14019 June 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Completed Mission41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
14120 June 1944Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Completed MissionLead Group.
Sortie Report
14221 June 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionComposite High Group.
Sortie Report
14422 June 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
14524 June 1944Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Sortie Report
14625 June 1944Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
14930 June 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
1504 July 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1516 July 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Completed MissionLow group.
Sortie Report
1537 July 1944Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Completed MissionHigh 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
15511 July 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
15612 July 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back due to failure of #2 engine.
Sortie Report
15816 July 1944Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
15917 July 1944Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.High group. Turned back at 0846 hrs due to #2 runaway prop.
Sortie Report
16018 July 1944Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Completed Mission41A Group.
Sortie Report
16321 July 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
16525 July 1944Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Completed MissionLead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
16628 July 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
16729 July 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed MissionLanded away at RAF Beccles, Suffolk, on return due to battle damage.
Sortie Report
18526 August 1944Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionHigh group.
Sortie Report
18630 August 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
1873 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1885 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1898 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1909 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
19110 September 1944Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany
Completed MissionReturned with #1 feathered.
Sortie Report
19619 September 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
19721 September 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
19825 September 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Completed MissionB Wing, low group. Did not bomb because unable to see wing lead release bombs.
Sortie Report
19926 September 1944Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
20027 September 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Completed MissionTail wheel would not extend for landing.
Sortie Report
21217 October 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
21318 October 1944Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Spare, Completed MissionLead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
21525 October 1944Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron.
Sortie Report
21630 October 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionLead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
2171 November 1944Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Spare, Completed MissionLow Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
2182 November 1944Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron.
Sortie Report
2216 November 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
2228 November 1944Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
2239 November 1944Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France
Completed MissionHigh Squadron.
Sortie Report
22720 November 1944Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionLead Squadron, 41st Bomb Wing D group.
Sortie Report
22823 November 1944Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
22925 November 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Completed MissionLanded away at Aldermaston, due to weather.
Sortie Report
23127 November 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
23229 November 1944Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
23330 November 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
2366 December 1944Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
2379 December 1944Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
23811 December 1944Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
23912 December 1944Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
24018 December 1944Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
24119 December 1944Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany
Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffDid not take off due to weather which deteriorated after lead aircraft took off.
Sortie Report
24223 December 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany
Completed MissionLanded away at Horham due to weather.
Sortie Report
24324 December 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany
Completed Mission13F Squadron.
Sortie Report
24427 December 1944Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron.
Sortie Report
24630 December 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Limburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
24731 December 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Neuss, Germany
Spare, Completed MissionLead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
2481 January 1945Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany
Completed MissionLead Squadron.
Sortie Report
2492 January 1945Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
2503 January 1945Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium
Completed MissionLow Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
2515 January 1945Target: Landing Ground
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
2527 January 1945Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
2538 January 1945Target: Railroad
Type: Transportation
Location: Kyllburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
25515 January 1945Target: Neuburg Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Neuburg an der Donau, Germany
Completed MissionLanded away on Continent at airstrip B-53 (Merville, France) on return, with #3 and #4 engines out.
Sortie Report
2849 March 1945Target: Henschel Tank and Locomotive Works
Type: Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
28611 March 1945Target: Vacuum Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bremen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
28712 March 1945Target: Railway Center
Type: Transportation
Location: Betzdorf, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
28814 March 1945Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
29017 March 1945Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen (Leipzig), Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
29118 March 1945Target: Schlesischer Railway Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
29219 March 1945Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen, Germany
Completed Mission41C Group.
Sortie Report
29320 March 1945Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Failed To ReturnLead Squadron. Hit by flak at 1655 hrs in #2 engine during withdrawal; was thrown out of formation to the right and dropped 7000ft; was last seen heading for the deck, apparently under control with no feathered props. Crashed near Ramhausen, Germany (northwest of Hamburg). MACR 13565
Sortie Report