384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Mission # 94

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 24 April 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 94, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 315
Aircraft Factory Demolished
Next Mission
Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) led the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing, and provided the majority of the high composite group of that wing, on today's mission. The objective was the factory in which the Do 335 Multipurpose Fighter was being built. This innovative aircraft was seen as a substantial threat to Allied fighter and bomber forces, and no effort was spared to cripple its production. In addition, new bombing formations were being tried for the first time, which made the mission even more hazardous. Regardless of the risk and challenges faced by aircrews, the mission was successful, crippling Do 335 production. For its part on this mission, the 384th was awarded its second Distinguished Unit Citation.
Primary Target Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 26
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 4
Scrubbed - 3
Failed To Return - 7
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗
Other Mission Documents Smokestack Blue Leader, Slow Down!⇓ (0.538 MB)
World War II Experiences⇓ (1.861 MB)
Not So Fond Memories of Oberpfaffenhofen ⇓ (2.968 MB)
Mission 94 Formal Report⇗
Mission 94 Intel Records⇗
Mission 94 Personnel Records⇗
24 April 1944 Strike Photo Overlay⇓ (Filesize N/A)

40 AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED TO THIS MISSION
Table is sorted by Pilot, and may be sorted by any column: click the column head.
Aircraft Pilot Results Mission/Sortie Information
42‑3429⇗Johnson, William T⇗Completed MissionSustained 20mm cannon damage.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3440⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑3441⇗Foster, James Everett⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888. Sustained 20mm cannon damage.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31346⇗Harvey, Walter Lewis⇗Failed To ReturnLow Squadron lead, lead group. Received direct flak burst at 1201 hrs 40 miles east of Paris; fire observed in nose with smoke coming out of cockpit; four chutes, only three opened; crashed SE of Cézanne, France. MACR 4355
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31484⇗[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑31495⇗Yokie, John Olivi⇗Completed MissionLanded with wounded crewmen aboard.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑32106⇗Knapp, Paul Bernard⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37785⇗Clayton, John Earl⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37789.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37789⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑37785.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37885⇗Broyhill, Virgil Ray⇗Failed To ReturnThough not observed leaving formation, this aircraft made a forced landing at Dubendorf, Switzerland. MACR 4287
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38013⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑38014⇗Ulrey, Edgar Ellsworth⇗Completed MissionWing lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38158⇗MacKichan, William Graham⇗Failed To ReturnHigh Squadron lead, lead group. Hit by direct flak burst on bomb run; a/c blew up in mid-air after bomb release. MACR 4352
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38208⇗[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑39888⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffBlew tire on takeoff; replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑3441.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97072⇗Humbles, Alfred Thomas⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97081⇗Corcoran, John Joseph⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97136⇗Boger, Eugene Arthur⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97139⇗Decker, Charles Edgar⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97142⇗Cole, Howard Woodrow⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97178⇗Barad, Robert Leo⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97188⇗Farthing, Frank (NMI)⇗Completed MissionSustained 20mm cannon damage.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97204⇗Daskey, Kendall (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97221⇗Brouillard, Richard Vincent⇗Failed To ReturnAttacked by enemy aircraft at 1329 hrs; crashed 2 miles SW of Schlehdorf/Kochelsee, Germany. MACR 4351
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97251⇗Smith, Charles Grover⇗Completed MissionLanded away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, due to battle damage.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97263⇗Brown, Donald Harold⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97372⇗Haley, Ralph Bernard⇗Failed To ReturnHit by flak near Munich; #2 engine on fire but plane under control; bombed target; crashed near Füssen, Germany. MACR 4349. Navigator seriously wounded; died on 16 May 1944 in a German hospital.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97449⇗Kelsay, Omar Frank⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97477⇗Edwards, Floyd Clinton⇗Failed To ReturnHigh composite group lead. Left formation immediately after target and instructed deputy Laboda to take over lead; set course for Switzerland; 4 chutes; e/a, cr Maulbronn (25 miles NW of Stuttgart), Germany. MACR 4348
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97514⇗Morrison, Donald Sylvester⇗Completed MissionWing deputy. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97573⇗Kirkpatrick, William Hugh⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97637⇗[305th BG Pilot]Completed MissionPFF aircraft and unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102430⇗Bennett, Dewayne (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102446⇗Bailey, Everett Lee⇗Failed To ReturnStruck by flak on bomb run; after bombing left formation and headed for Switzerland; shot down by Swiss aircraft, crashing into the Greifensee. MACR 4347. This aircraft was recovered from lake in the 1950's.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102448⇗Bouvier, James Andrew⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102449⇗Coleman, Lee Browning⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy, lead group.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102518⇗Laboda, Joseph Stanley⇗Completed MissionAssumed lead after target when lead aircraft was shot down.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑107057⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑97637, and Stoulil Crew.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑107058⇗Gowder, Charles Fred⇗Completed MissionLanded away at RAF Manston, Kent, on return due to crew casualties and battle damage. This aircraft had two killed and four wounded aboard. 2nd Lt. Charles Gowder was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. S/Sgt. James E. Williamson, tail gunner, was awarded the Silver Star.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑107074⇗Strand, Robert Earl⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑107083.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗