| Mission Date | 1 December 1943 |
| 384th Mission |
Mission Number 39
|
| 8th Air Force Mission | Mission Number 145 |
| Mission Comments |
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 Failed To Return - 3 Aborted - 3 Scrubbed - 4 Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2 Ditched - 1 Returned Early - 1 |
| Mission Personnel | Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗ |
| Mission Documents | Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗ |
| Aircraft | Pilot | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41‑24525⇗ | Rich, John (NMI) | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑31274. Landed away at Woodbridge. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 41‑24557⇗ | Sundlun, Bruce George | Failed to Return | Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed near Ettingen, Germany; MACR 1334. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 41‑24578⇗ | Stearns, Clarence Grover | Flying Spare, Completed Mission | Flying Spare; joined formation. Landed away at Manston. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑3259⇗ | Bedsole, Joseph Linyer | Completed Mission | SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑5838⇗ | [N/A] | Scrubbed | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑39784. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑29554⇗ | Yelvington, Melton Albert | Completed Mission | Landed away at Molesworth. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑29632⇗ | Jones, William Arch | Completed Mission | Landed away at Kimbolton. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑29703⇗ | Robinson, Robert Lawrence | Flying Spare, Completed Mission | Flying Spare; joined formation. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑29723⇗ | Reed, Merlin H | Completed Mission | Low squadron. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑29768⇗ | Nelson, Darwin George | Failed to Return | Shot 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 Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37816. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑29935⇗ | Markow, Henry V | Scrubbed | Did not take off SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑30033⇗ | Goulder, Edmund Samuel | Failed to Return | Group lead; mechanical problems; crashed near Prüm, Germany; MACR 1335 SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑31058⇗ | Wilson, William Monroe | Aborted | 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 | 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 | Replaced 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 | 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 Mission | High squadron lead; landed away at Woodbridge. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑37801⇗ | Booska, Maurice Arthur | Completed Mission | SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑37816⇗ | [N/A] | Scrubbed | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑29828. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑37848⇗ | Ulrey, Edgar Ellsworth | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Waterbeach, Cambs. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑37885⇗ | Jorgenson, Henry (NMI) | Returned Early | Flying Spare; joined formation; turned back over enemy territory due to a cracked cylinder head on #4 engine. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑39784⇗ | Willing, Mark Skinner | Completed Mission | Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5838. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |
| 42‑39796⇗ | Martin, Rudolph Alfred | Failed to Return, Ditched | Ditched off Portsmouth, entire crew rescued; no MACR. SORTIE REPORT ⇗ |