| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑02‑24 | 66 | 233 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany |
| Big Week, Day Five: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided two formations for today's mission. The main formation of group size flew as the lead group of the 41st 'Regular' Combat Bombardment Wing. The second formation, consisting of two squadrons, combined with a squadron from the 303rd BG to form the composite low group of the same combat wing. The weather cooperated, with CAVU conditions over the target area. A smoke screen did not hide the target very well, and, in fact, helped the bombardiers identify and confirm the target location! Bombing was by visual aiming and results were good. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: Wing lead. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑31235 ⇗ | 544th | SU*C | GOIN DOG |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Commander | Beckett, Thomas Pope⇗ | GpHQ | Completed, Uninjured |
| Pilot | Merritt, James Melvin⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Martin-Vegue, James Raymond⇗ | GpHQ | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Drogue, Arthur Joseph, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Bonnett, Charles Daniel⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Purdy, Alan Bradford⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Hutchison, William Wilds⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Arnold, Walter Howard⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Allio, Orion Randolph⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Bonanza, John Joseph, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Corpening, Robert Clark⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| Photo | 1944-02-24, Wing Lead, T. Beckett, J. Merritt |