384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Mission # 39

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 1 December 1943
VIII Bomber Command Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 39, VIII BC Mission Number 145
Primary Target Attacked
Next Mission
Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew today's mission under very challenging conditions. During initial climb in wing formation, the low squadron was forced to fly through a cloud layer with icing conditions. This caused three aircraft to fall out of position, which were then unable to return to the formation. Also, during most of the mission, flying speeds were excessively high - as much as 175 mph - causing fuel shortages on return.
Primary Target Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (PFF)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 12
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Returned Early - 1
Ditched - 1
Scrubbed - 4
Aborted - 3
Failed To Return - 3
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗

26 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
41‑24525⇗Rich, John (NMI)⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑31274. Landed away at Woodbridge.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
41‑24557⇗Sundlun, Bruce George⇗Failed To ReturnShot down by enemy aircraft, crashed SE of Ostend, Belgium, near Snellegem.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
41‑24578⇗Stearns, Clarence Grover⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying Spare; joined formation. Landed away at Manston.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3259⇗Bedsole, Joseph Linyer⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5838⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑39784.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29554⇗Yelvington, Melton Albert⇗Completed MissionLanded away at Molesworth.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29632⇗Jones, William Arch⇗Completed MissionLanded away at Kimbolton.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29703⇗Robinson, Robert Lawrence⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying Spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29723⇗Reed, Merlin Howard⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29768⇗Nelson, Darwin George⇗Failed To ReturnShot down by enemy aircraft; crashed near the Zwarteberg/Mont Noir on the Belgian-French border. The crewmembers bailed out, Easley landed near Boeschepe (Nord), France, some others landing near Abele, Belgium, and the rest near Westouter, Belgium. These locations are all within four miles south and west of Poperinge, Belgium; MACR 1336
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29828⇗Edwards, Floyd Clinton⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37816.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29935⇗Markow, Henry Victor⇗Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffDid not take off
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑30033⇗Goulder, Edmund Samuel⇗Failed To ReturnGroup lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31058⇗Wilson, William Monroe⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Low Squadron lead; turned back due to excessive icing (3/4' on wings), frozen guns, and lagging turbo.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31073⇗Carter, T L (IO)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31211⇗MacPhail, Philip Ray⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Low Squadron. Aborted due to excessive icing (3/4' on wings, etc.); aircraft stalled and went into a spiral.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31274⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 41-24525.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37727⇗Van der Haeghen, Joseph Albert⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37776⇗Moore, Clifford Orville⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Low Squadron. Aborted due to excessive icing; aircraft stalled at 80mph and dropped 3000' after hitting propwash in icing conditions.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37792⇗Thompson, Siguard (NMI)⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead; landed away at Woodbridge.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37801⇗Booska, Maurice Arthur⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37816⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑29828.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37848⇗Ulrey, Edgar Ellsworth⇗Completed MissionLanded away at RAF Waterbeach, Cambs.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37885⇗Jorgenson, Henry (NMI)⇗Returned EarlyFlying Spare; joined formation; turned back over enemy territory due to a cracked cylinder head on #4 engine.
FLIGHT TIME 6:00
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑39784⇗Willing, Mark Skinner⇗Completed MissionLead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5838.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑39796⇗Martin, Rudolph Alfred⇗Failed To Return: DitchedDitched off Portsmouth, entire crew rescued; no MACR.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗