| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑07‑25 | 10 | 76 | Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany |
| Smoke Screen Challenges Bombardiers: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as part of the 103rd Combat Wing on today's mission. A flak barrage was thrown up in the target area but caused little damage. However, an estimated 300 enemy fighters attacked the formation in the target area, resulting in many losses for the group. The target partially obscured by smoke screen but the bombardiers were able to see enough ground points to make an effective attack. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return: Ditched Comments: Low Squadron Lead. Damaged by flak and fighters, ditched in the North Sea. Rescued by a Danish fishing boat; returned to duty. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑5883 ⇗ | 544th | SU*D | WEARY WILLIE / NO NAME JIVE |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Estes, Thomas Jefferson⇗ | 544 | Wounded |
| Co-pilot | Merritt, James Melvin⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Navigator | DuBois, John Jay⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Bombardier | Davis, David Harold⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Radio Operator | Wagner, Fred S⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Cochran, David Leon⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Ball Turret | O'Donnell, William John⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Tail Gunner | McDuffie, Burton Curtis⇗ | 544 | Wounded |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Self, James Melvin, Jr⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Ursta, George (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Ditched, Rescued |