Mission # 48

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 31 December 1943
VIII Bomber Command Operations Operations description not yet available.
384th Bomb Group Mission
384th BG Mission Number 48, VIII BC Mission Number 171
Target Not Found
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the low group of the 41st Combat Bomb Wing on today's mission. The primary target was a ship reported to be at or near the mouth of the River Garonne. However, the target was not seen due to 10/10 cloud cover, while the secondary target was hidden by 8/10 clouds, so the formation returned without attacking. Bombs were mostly jettisoned in the English Channel. Due to weather and fuel shortage, most aircraft landed at other bases.
Primary Target Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France
Target Attacked (Mode) No Target Attacked
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 17
Crashed - 2
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 3
Scrubbed - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster or Mission Loading Lists
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives

23 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
41‑24525Smith, Roger ClementCompleted MissionLanded away at Kimbolton; bombs jettisoned.
SORTIE REPORT
41‑24560Lotz, William HenryCompleted MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37885. Landed at RAF Harwell, Berkshire, with bombs.
SORTIE REPORT
41‑24578Outen, Charles LeviFlying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT
42‑3087Kaczaraba, William (NMI)Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑5404Allison, Earl ThomasCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑5444Price, William MerrimanCompleted MissionGroup lead, because lead ship had to be replaced; Capt Frink transferred to this ship. Landed away at Kimbolton; bombs returned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29632Carpenter, Walter RichardCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑29651Herbert, Joseph RobertCompleted MissionLanded away at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29688Daskey, Kendall (NMI)Completed MissionLanded away at Kimbolton, with bomb load.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29703Robinson, Robert LawrenceCompleted MissionLanded away at Kimbolton.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑29723Taylor, Sidney PaulFlying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT
42‑29809Hurley, Joseph AnthonyFlying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT
42‑31045Jeter, Sydney RylandCompleted MissionLanded away at Chelveston; bombs jettisoned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31073Stier, George WithersCrashed In Allied TerritoryCrash-landed near Whittlesey, UK (east of Peterborough) on return; crew bailed out safely, although minor injuries typical of a parachute descent were undoubtedly sustained; pilot and copilot rode ship down and were uninjured. Bombs had been jettisoned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑31211MacPhail, Philip RayCompleted MissionLanded away at Kimbolton; bombs jettisoned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37725Rich, John (NMI)Crashed In Allied TerritoryDitched. Eight crewmen bailed out in vicinity of Offham, Sussex
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37727Morrison, Donald SylvesterCompleted MissionLanded away at Alconbury; bombs returned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37758Wilson, William MonroeCompleted Mission SORTIE REPORT
42‑37776Wolf, Richard VanceCompleted MissionLanded away at Molesworth; bombs jettisoned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37848Ulrey, Edgar EllsworthCompleted MissionLow Squadron lead. Landed away at Molesworth.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37885[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by ??????. Excessive RPM drop on magneto check. Scheduled to lead the Group with Capt Frink as Air Commander; Frink transferred to the Price ship.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑37924Stearns, Clarence GroverCompleted MissionLanded away at Molesworth; bombs jettisoned.
SORTIE REPORT
42‑39888Sprague, Alfred LeeCompleted MissionHigh Squadron lead. Landed away at 'Little Stanton' (assumed Little Staughton); bombs returned.
SORTIE REPORT