| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑12‑01 | 39 | 145 | Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant Type: Industry Location: Solingen, Germany |
| 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. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: Group lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am. Shortly after turning back and crossing the coast a second engine died and the pilot turned back south to get over land so the crew could bail out. Bail outs started near the coast, and the aircraft crash-landed near Liesele, Belgium. MACR 1335 |
No Target Attacked |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | |||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME | GROUND CREW CHIEF |
| B-17F | 42‑30033 ⇗ | 546th | BK*G | LITTLE AMERICA | Foster, Ewing H |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Commander | Dillingham, Maurice Stanley⇗ | 547 | POW/Wounded |
| Pilot | Goulder, Edmund Samuel⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Navigator | Harris, Arthur Claude⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Bombardier | Boomhower, William (NMI)⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Sears, William Francis⇗ | 547 | POW/Wounded |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Thomasson, Edward Arthmur⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Ball Turret | Leslie, Claude Robert⇗ | 547 | Evaded |
| Tail Gunner | Boyce, Ernest Marshall, Jr⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Saunders, Paul Ralph⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Vodilko, Michael Joseph⇗ | 547 | POW |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 1335⇗ |
| ESCAPE | Escape & Evasion Report # 733⇗ |