| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑12‑31 | 48 | 171 | Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship) Type: Transportation Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France |
| 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. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: High Squadron lead. Landed away at 'Little Stanton' (assumed Little Staughton); bombs returned. |
No Target Attacked |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑39888 ⇗ | 544th | SU*B | HOTNUTS |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Sprague, Alfred Lee⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Geary, James Eugene⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Baldwin, Pendleton Gaines⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Pierce, Kermit Aubrey⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Anderson, Clarence Denton⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Marshall, Dean William⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Stearman, Charles Lee Verne⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Aune, Rudolph (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Abramowitz, Abraham Bernhard⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Redding, George Thomas⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |