| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1945‑04‑06 | 305 | 930 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (Visual Primary) Type: Transportation Location: Leipzig, Germany |
| Leipzig Railyard Bombed: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing A Group. Due to 10/10ths cloud cover over the primary (visual) target aim point, bombs were released at the secondary (PFF) aim point. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: Collided with 43‑38801 after target at 1018 hrs. This aircraft peeled off to right, #3 engine fell off, #4 was on fire, and it went into a flat spin and fell apart. The MACR states that as many as six chutes were observed, but only three of the crew survived. Crashed near Leisnig, Germany. |
Secondary (PFF) Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Secondary) Type: Transportation Location: Leipzig, Germany |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 43‑39164 ⇗ | 544th | SU*F | not known |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Gray, Fred Price⇗ | 544 | KIA |
| Co-pilot | Strang, Walter David⇗ | 544 | POW |
| Navigator | Merriam, David Eugene⇗ | 544 | POW |
| Togglier | Poulsen, Leonard Irvin⇗ | 544 | KIA |
| Radio Operator | Kustra, Michael (NMI)⇗ | 544 | KIA |
| Engineer/Top Turret | McCullough, John Randolph⇗ | 544 | KIA |
| Ball Turret | Donini, Joseph (NMI)⇗ | 544 | KIA |
| Tail Gunner | Bull, Joe Walter⇗ | 544 | POW |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 13850⇗ |