Mission # 316

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 25 April 1945
Eighth Air Force Operations Show Operations
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 316, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 968
THE LAST ONE!
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing C Group in Air Task Force 1 on today's mission, the last strategic bombing mission of the war in Europe. Under strict orders to bomb by visual means only, the Lead and Low Squadrons made two bomb runs, and the High Squadron made three. Results appeared to be good, and the delay resulted in the 384th dropping the final bombs of the war on Axis targets in Europe.
It was not known that this would be the last strategic bombing mission of WWII in the ETO until well after this mission ended.
Primary Target Target: Skoda Armament Works
Type: Industry
Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 35
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Flight Completed - 1
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 4
Failed To Return - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives
Other Mission Documents 1945-04-25, Group Lead, PFF Ship, T. Hutchinson, R. Lucas

43 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
42‑37788Thurston, Lawrence ECompleted MissionHigh Squadron Hot Camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑38208Ruckman, George FrancisCompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97309Poulton, John WCompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑97510[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑97824Knaur, John ShermanCompleted MissionLow Squadron Hot Camera ship. Landed away at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, on return with hydraulics out due to battle damage.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑98027Graehl, Russell ECompleted MissionHigh Squadron Lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑102459Montgomery, Robert WCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑102518[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑102620Schwab, Arthur LCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑102661Moorhead, Harris LeroyCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑107125[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
43‑37717Ahner, Lewis RussellCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑37917Sheahan, Robert ECompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38501Lovett, Andrew GordonFailed To ReturnThree engines knocked out by flak ten minutes away from allied territory; crashed near German-Czech border. MACR 14317
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38548Humphries, Richard SterlingCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38588Seavey, Homer CarlCompleted MissionLead Squadron Hot Camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38747Festersen, John CarlCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38752Martin, Gerald LCompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38757Meitzler, Roy AlbertCompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38766Clontz, Leon MaynardCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38839Davidson, Wallace SimmsCompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑38974Abare, William TebbsCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑38994Smith, Eliot HenryCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑39138Grove, Alfred WCompleted MissionDamaged when struck by flak during a second run over the target.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑39197Leavitt, Philip NeldonCompleted MissionHad one engine out due to battle damage. Landed away at A-70 (Laon/Couvron, France) on return.
SORTIE REPORT
43‑39203Kendrick, Richard MCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
43‑39236Scherokman, Edward (NMI)Completed MissionHigh Squadron. 'Made 3 runs on target - feathered #4 engine, #3 prop-control cable shot away - left main wing spar shot through - all gas tanks shot through.' (pilot comments)
SORTIE REPORT
43‑39444Gray, Harold ReginaldCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑6476Hartley, Henry AllanCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑6514Eakin, Otho MitchellCompleted MissionHigh Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6592Aitken, Robert PartingtonCompleted MissionHigh Squadron. Note on formation chart indicates a problem with landing gear on return.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6882Wahlstrom, Harry LawrenceCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑6892Kowats, Daniel FrankSpare, Completed MissionLow Squadron Flying Spare. Joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑6898Lewis, Charles AllynCompleted MissionHigh Squadron Deputy and Hot Camera Ship.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8007Kinkead, Robert MillerFlight CompletedWeather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8211Magleby, Calvin CharlesCompleted MissionGroup Deputy and Hot Camera ship. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed with a flat tire; ran off landing runway onto runway 30.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8408Cotton, Donald FrancisCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑8608Shotto, Francis RexfordCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
44‑8649[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, UnusedLead PFF & Gee-H Ground Spare Aircraft.
44‑8679Drew, James LawrenceSpare, Completed MissionHigh Squadron Flying Spare. Joined formation. On return, landed at B-51 (Lille/Vendeville, France) due to battle damage.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8789Lucas, Roy ECompleted MissionGroup Lead. PFF ship.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8923Wright, Edward SCompleted MissionLow Squadron Lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
SORTIE REPORT
44‑8945Wilson, Robert LCompleted MissionLow Squadron Deputy and Hot Camera ship.
SORTIE REPORT