| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1945‑04‑25 | 316 | 968 | Target: Skoda Armament Works Type: Industry Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia |
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THE LAST ONE!: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing C Group in Air Task Force 1 on today's mission, the last strategic bombing mission of the war in Europe. Under strict orders to bomb by visual means only, the Lead and Low Squadrons made two bomb runs, and the High Squadron made three. Results appeared to be good, and the delay resulted in the 384th dropping the final bombs of the war on Axis targets in Europe. It was not known that this would be the last strategic bombing mission of WWII in the ETO until well after this mission ended. |
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| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: High Squadron. 'Made 3 runs on target - feathered #4 engine, #3 prop-control cable shot away - left main wing spar shot through - all gas tanks shot through.' (pilot comments) |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 43‑39236 ⇗ | 547th | SO*A | BLINKIN' BETSY |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Scherokman, Edward (NMI)⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | McClelland, Gerald W⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Beeby, John Otto⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Togglier | Barr, Daniel Francis⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Adams, Patrick J⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Wilkens, William John⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Ancel, Orval Joseph⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Chesney, Michael (NMI)⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Photographer | Himmler, Francis Frederick⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |