Mission # 118

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 28 May 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Show Operations
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 118, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 376
The "Grapefruit" Mission
For the second mission of the day - identified as 'Grapefruit Mission' in Group records - the 384th Bombardment Group (H) formed the High Group of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing, the sole wing comprising Air Task Force 5. This was an experimental attack using first-generation glide bombs. The primary target is identified as 'Railroad Marshaling Yards' or 'Industrial Center of City' in various Group documents. A great deal of practice and experimentation was involved in preparing crews and equipment for this mission. Results were inconclusive; however, it should be noted that the 384th did not repeat an attack of this type again.
Primary Target Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 18
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 2
Scrubbed - 2
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives
Other Mission Documents 28 May 1944, Group Lead, Nuttall, L. Armstrong

24 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
42‑3429Halasz, John JuliusCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑3441Dean, Ralph MerrickSpare, Completed MissionFlying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑107064.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31484Armstrong, Lloyd RowlandCompleted MissionGroup Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37758Birckhead, Robert BruceCompleted MissionHigh Squadron Deputy (original assignment). However, he became separated from the 384th formation. He joined the Low Squadron of the Lead Group (303rd BG) as #7; released bombs on target but didn't arm them due to a blown fuse.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37776[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑37785Strong, Bert FranklinCompleted MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑38013.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37974Kelley, Robert EncilCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑37982James, Robert HueySpare, Completed MissionFlying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38013[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑37785.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑39888Gottfried, Raymond NathanCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97139[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑97178Peterson, Walter ThomasCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97188Maggart, Richard LeeCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97271Adams, William LowellCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97282Boger, Eugene ArthurCompleted MissionLow Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97309Burkhard, James AlbertCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑97573Kirkpatrick, William HughCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑102430Bagby, Donald WoodsCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑102442Van Every, Russell MeredithCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑102617Rimbold, Arthur ArimeseCompleted MissionLow Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107057Lane, Edward WilliamCompleted MissionHigh Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107064[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑3441.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107125Helmley, Loyd ElmerCompleted MissionGroup Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107148Peterson, Harold WilliamCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT