384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Mission # 259

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 22 January 1945
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 259, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 805
Visual Bombing!
Next Mission
Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided the lead and low squadrons of the 41st Combat Wing C Group on today's mission. Although prepared for blind bombing with PFF (radar) and Gee-H, the target was clearly visible. Bombing was reported to be excellent.
Primary Target Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 25
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Landed In Allied Territory - 1
Flight Completed - 1
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 3
Scrubbed - 1
Failed To Return - 2
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗

35 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⇗Baughman, John R⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38013⇗Bennett, Ralph J⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38208⇗Blankenmeyer, William J⇗Flight CompletedWeather aircraft.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97824⇗[Non-384th Pilot]Completed MissionLoaned to the 457th BG for today's mission. Manned by 457th personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97960⇗Molder, Charles Richard⇗Spare, Completed MissionLow Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102459⇗Reed, Verlin Dean⇗Spare, Completed MissionLead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102501⇗McKay, William Monroe⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102518⇗Hollingsworth, Fredrick Clay⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑102620⇗Milligan, George Robert⇗Completed MissionLanded at Grafton Underwood with a locked right main wheel (caused by battle damage) and was struck from behind by the next aircraft.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑37703⇗Birder, Rodney Hugh⇗Failed To ReturnDamaged by flak, this aircraft left the formation in the target area; crashed near Kervenheim, Germany. MACR 11764
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑37843⇗Belsinger, Harry Flair⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38016⇗[Non-384th Pilot]Completed MissionLoaned to the 457th BG for today's mission. Manned by 457th personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38501⇗Rush, Joseph Henry⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38647⇗Smith, Jack M⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38673⇗Starr, William George⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38721⇗Burroughs, Edwin Carlton⇗Completed MissionLead Squadron hot camera ship. Landed long and collided with 42-102620 which had not cleared the runway due to a flat tire.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38747⇗Smith, Jack L⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron hot camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38752⇗Whitesides, John Boyce⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron hot camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38757⇗Klatt, Merton Dale⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38766⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
43‑38850⇗Van Popering, Earle Allen⇗Failed To ReturnLead Squadron hot camera ship. Left formation five miles after target and was still tracked by flak; levelled off for a short time, but soon went into a nose dive with all four engines running and one wheel down; crashed near Deventer, The Netherlands. MACR 11994
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑38994⇗Johnson, Donald Ernest⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑39019⇗Boyette, Irving H⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑39053⇗Spangler, George Knox⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
43‑39060⇗Richardson, George P⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑6109⇗Mohr, James Henry⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑8408. Landed away at Wittering.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑6514⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
44‑6590⇗Galiano, Joe Vincent⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑6592⇗Goble, Charles D⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑8007⇗[Non-384th Pilot]Completed MissionLoaned to the 401st BG for today's mission. Manned by 401st personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑8008⇗[Non-384th Pilot]Completed MissionLoaned to the 401st BG for today's mission. Manned by 401st personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑8221⇗Koch, Robert Bruce⇗Landed In Allied TerritoryGroup lead; PFF and Gee-H ship. Engine #3 ran away after the target; left the formation about 15 minutes before the Zuider Zee on the return trip. Major Hutchinson ordered the deputy to assume the lead. The mission folder lacks details, but it is known that this aircraft flew its next mission with the 384th on 7 April, and several of the crewmembers continued to fly with the Group.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑8401⇗Rice, Robert Eugene⇗Completed MissionLead PFF ground spare; replaced 8221, which was taken by group lead when 8211 was scrubbed. Group deputy. Landed away at Woodbridge; flak damage caused prop to fall off during landing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑8408⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 44‑6109.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
44‑8608⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused