| 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: 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 |
Primary (PFF) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑29768 ⇗ | 547th | SO*X | WINSOME WINN II |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Nelson, Darwin George⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Co-pilot | Smith, Elmer LeRoy⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Navigator | Harrison, Joseph Horatio⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Bombardier | Drake, Sam Ellis⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Easley, Curtis (NMI)⇗ | 547 | Evaded/Wounded |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Gregorich, Vincent (NMI)⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Ball Turret | Turner, John Harvey⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Tail Gunner | Brewer, Albert (NMI)⇗ | 547 | Evaded |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Gomez, Antonio Chavez, Jr⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Seager, Francis Marvin⇗ | 547 | POW |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 1336⇗ |
| ESCAPE | Escape & Evasion Report # 2189⇗ |
| ESCAPE | Escape & Evasion Report # 656⇗ |