Mission # 131

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 8 June 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Show Operations
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 131, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 400
Railroads Targeted with Mixed Results
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three groups of the 41st C Combat Bombardment Wing (41C Wing) and the low group of the 41st D Combat Bombardment Wing (41D Group) on today's mission: these Wings were fifth and sixth of the eleven bomb Wings of Air Task Force #1. In support of the invasion force, bombers aimed to disrupt supply lines and materiel in railroad cars. Bombing by the 41C Wing was prevented by clouds over the primary target, so each group independently sought the secondary target, targets of opportunity (TOO), and last resort targets, which were all hidden by localized cloud cover, so attempts to bomb were abandoned and all bombers returned to base with their lethal loads. The 41D Group found their target in the clear: strike photos confirmed direct hits on the railroad bridge.
Primary Target Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 48
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 4
Scrubbed - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives

53 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
42‑3441[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑31222Thoma, Edward PaulCompleted Mission41D Group, Group Deputy. Ground Spare aircraft, replaced 42‑97139. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31435[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑31484Pompe, Bernard JosephCompleted Mission41C Wing, Low Group Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑32106Cranstoun, Richard LeroyCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37758Bagby, Donald WoodsCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37776[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑37785[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑37792Liebert, Jack LouisCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37822Druckenmiller, Leon CharlesCompleted Mission41C Wing, High Group, High Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37982James, Robert HueyCompleted Mission41C Wing, High Group, High Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38013Shelley, John KeithCompleted Mission41C Wing, Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38014Smith, Charles GroverCompleted Mission41D Group, Group Lead. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38208Brown, Donald HaroldCompleted Mission41C Wing, Lead Group, Wing Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑39888Gottfried, Raymond NathanCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97139[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare aircraft 42‑31222.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97142Melsen, Howard CarlCompleted Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97150Hannaford, Vernon LloyalCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97188Eakins, Robert NathanialCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97201Roth, Verle LeroyCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97204Pring, Robert BradfordCompleted Mission41C Wing, Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97237Hale, Charles EugeneCompleted Mission41C Wing, Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97251Rosborough, James EdwardCompleted Mission41D Group, High Squadron Deputy. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97271Birckhead, Robert BruceCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97273Meland, Ralph WendellCompleted Mission41D Group, Low Squadron Lead. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97282Maggart, Richard LeeCompleted Mission41C Wing, High Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97309Van Every, Russell MeredithCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97320Melzar, Raymond AugustusCompleted Mission41C Wing, High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Loading list states 'No Ball Turret.'
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97367MacFarlane, Menzies JamesCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97449Wortman, Marshall (NMI)Completed Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97510Gibson, James AllenCompleted Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97521Burkhard, James AlbertCompleted Mission41C Wing, Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97941Peterson, Walter ThomasCompleted Mission41C Wing, Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97960Kelly, John ThomasCompleted Mission41C Wing, Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102430Adams, William LowellCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102442Peterson, Harold WilliamCompleted Mission41C Wing, Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102459Rimbold, Arthur ArimeseCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102500Gowder, Charles FredCompleted Mission41D Group, High Squadron Lead. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102501Rucker, David LeroyCompleted Mission41D Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102518Keate, Richard CliffordCompleted Mission41C Wing, Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102601Carey, Gates ChapmanCompleted Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102617Strong, Bert FranklinCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102620Shearer, Wilbur LeeCompleted Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102661Kelley, Robert EncilCompleted Mission41C Wing, High Group Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102959Halasz, John JuliusCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107057Ungerman, Kenneth ArmisteadCompleted Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107058Peck, Harland KennethCompleted Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107064Brown, Billie BarnardCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107148Bennett, Dewayne (NMI)Completed Mission41C Wing, Low Group Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107221Sammons, Gerald BusbyCompleted Mission41C Wing, High Group Lead.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑107224Fairfield, William AdelbertCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6080Humbles, Alfred ThomasCompleted Mission41C Wing, Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6105Menke, Robert ArthurCompleted Mission41C Wing.
SORTIE REPORT