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B-17G 44-8216

Aircraft Details

Serial Number: 44-8216
Name: Not Known
Manufacturer: Built by the Vega Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Lockheed Corporation, B-17G-55-VE, Natural Metal Finish
Squadron: 545th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code: 545th‑JD*Y
Ground Crew Chief: Priesnitz, Frank Joseph, Jr
Start Date: 4 November 1944. New Replacement AC.
Missions: This aircraft was credited with 14 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date: 10 January 1945. Failed to return from combat operations: MIA: wreckage and remains not found.
Related Documents:Missing Air Crew Report # 11578 (6.263 MB)
Photo Album: Aircraft 44-8216 Photo Album
(more...)

B-17G Aircraft 44-8216 Was Assigned To 21 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 14 Of Them
Number Date Target Results Mission/Sortie Information
2228 November 1944Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed MissionGroup deputy. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
22410 November 1944Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Completed Mission41C Group, Low Squadron Lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
22511 November 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
22616 November 1944Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
23026 November 1944Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenbeken, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
23127 November 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
23229 November 1944Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany
Completed MissionGilbert Crew took off in 43‑38016 but lost #2 engine; landed and moved to this aircraft.
Sortie Report
2366 December 1944Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
2379 December 1944Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship (no Gee-H Navigator on today's crew). Capt Ulrey intended to release on group lead, but his bombardier 'picked up the target visually, and made a visual run.'
Sortie Report
23811 December 1944Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead, B Group. PFF and Gee-H ship. Bombed independently using Gee-H.
Sortie Report
24018 December 1944Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
24324 December 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
24630 December 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Limburg, Germany
Completed MissionLoaned to the 381st BG for today's mission. Manned by 381st personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report.
Sortie Report
24731 December 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Neuss, Germany
Completed MissionGee-H equipped aircraft. Loaned to the 381st BG for today's mission. Manned by 381st personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report.
Sortie Report
2481 January 1945Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany
Completed MissionGroup lead. PFF ship. Prevented from attacking the primary target by weather, led an attack on the secondary PFF target, but did not attack when PFF equipment failed. After several additional failed attempts to attack the secondary and last resort targets, finally attacked a target of opportunity (TOO).
Sortie Report
2492 January 1945Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
2503 January 1945Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium
Completed MissionPFF & Gee-H ship. Loaned to 91st BG, with unidentified Gee-H navigator; remainder of crew provided by 91st BG.
Sortie Report
2515 January 1945Target: Landing Ground
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
2527 January 1945Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
2538 January 1945Target: Railroad
Type: Transportation
Location: Kyllburg, Germany
Completed MissionGee-H ship. Loaned to the 306th BG with Gee-H navigator; remaining unidentified crew provided by 306th BG. Bombed 306th assigned secondary target.
Sortie Report
25410 January 1945Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany
Failed To ReturnGroup lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Left formation 20 minutes prior to the IP, apparently due to flak damage. No communication was received from this aircraft regarding the abort. Crash site and fate of crew are unknown. MACR 11578
Sortie Report