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Mission # 121

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 31 May 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Show Operations
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 121, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 382
Weather Diverts Bombers
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Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high group of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing, which was the last of six CBWs of Air Task Force 1 on today's mission. Bad weather in the form of dense clouds prevented the bombers from reaching the primary target area, forcing them to seek targets of opportunity (TOO). Equipment problems (stuck bomb bay doors on the Lead aircraft) resulted in the 384th having to seek its own TOO. While the remainder of the Wing circled nearby, the 384th made two bomb runs, finally releasing its bombs on the railroad target.
Primary Target Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Colmar, France
Target Attacked (Mode) TOO (Visual)
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Roosendaal, The Netherlands
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 11
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 1
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 1
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 1
Scrubbed - 2
Aborted - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗

17 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
42‑32106⇗Cranstoun, Richard Leroy⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37822⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑102620.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑39888⇗Strong, Bert Franklin⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying Spare. Joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97178⇗Peterson, Walter Thomas⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97188⇗Kelley, Robert Encil⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97282⇗Johnson, William T⇗Completed MissionGroup Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97320⇗Eakins, Robert Nathanial⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back at 0951 hrs because #1 and #3 engine oil temperatures read 90-100 degrees and #3 oil pressure was 45 lbs at altitude.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102430⇗Burkhard, James Albert⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102442⇗Liebert, Jack Louis⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102500⇗Bagby, Donald Woods⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102518⇗Pompe, Bernard Joseph⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102566⇗Van Every, Russell Meredith⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102617⇗Melzar, Raymond Augustus⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102620⇗Halasz, John Julius⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37822.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102661⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Lead Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑107221.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑107221⇗Sammons, Gerald Busby⇗Completed MissionGroup Lead. Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102661.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑6080⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused