Mission # 39

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 1 December 1943
VIII Bomber Command Operations Operations description not yet available.
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 39, VIII BC Mission Number 145
Primary Target Attacked
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
41‑24525Rich, John (NMI)Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑31274. Landed away at Woodbridge.
SORTIE REPORT
41‑24557Sundlun, Bruce GeorgeFailed To ReturnShot down by enemy aircraft, crashed SE of Ostend, Belgium, near Snellegem.
SORTIE REPORT
41‑24578Stearns, Clarence GroverSpare, Completed MissionFlying Spare; joined formation. Landed away at Manston.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑3259Bedsole, Joseph LinyerCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑5838[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑39784.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29554Yelvington, Melton AlbertCompleted MissionLanded away at Molesworth.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29632Jones, William ArchCompleted MissionLanded away at Kimbolton.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29703Robinson, Robert LawrenceSpare, Completed MissionFlying Spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29723Reed, Merlin HowardCompleted MissionLow Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29768Nelson, Darwin GeorgeFailed 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
42‑29828Edwards, Floyd ClintonCompleted MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37816.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29935Markow, Henry VictorScrubbed: Did Not Take OffDid not take off
SORTIE REPORT
42‑30033Goulder, Edmund SamuelFailed To ReturnGroup lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31058Wilson, William MonroeAborted Mission After Taking Off.Low Squadron lead; turned back due to excessive icing (3/4' on wings), frozen guns, and lagging turbo.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31073Carter, T L (IO)Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑31211MacPhail, Philip RayAborted 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
42‑37727Van der Haeghen, Joseph AlbertCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑37776Moore, Clifford OrvilleAborted 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
42‑37792Thompson, Siguard (NMI)Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead; landed away at Woodbridge.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37801Booska, Maurice ArthurCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑37816[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑29828.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37848Ulrey, Edgar EllsworthCompleted MissionLanded away at RAF Waterbeach, Cambs.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37885Jorgenson, 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
42‑39784Willing, Mark SkinnerCompleted MissionLead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5838.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑39796Martin, Rudolph AlfredFailed To Return: DitchedDitched off Portsmouth, entire crew rescued; no MACR.
SORTIE REPORT