| 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) |
| No |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off. Comments: Turned back at 1137 hrs because ball turret oxygen system hose broke after catching under electrical conduit elbow; later, flexible filler hose got caught in turret gears and entire system went out. |
N/A |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑29828 ⇗ | 545th | JD*C | T.S. |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Heffley, Farris Ormond⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Co-pilot | Mabe, Walter Breeden⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Navigator | Carini, Louis Peter⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Bombardier | Betolatti, John (NMI)⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Radio Operator | Shade, William James⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Deutsch, Samuel (NMI)⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Ball Turret | Metz, Charles John⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Tail Gunner | Allen, George William⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Alfter, Glen Edward⇗ | 545 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Gatzman, Ralph Lee⇗ | 545 | Aborted |