| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑07‑28 | 11 | 78 | Target: Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany |
| Aborted Mission: The deputy flight leader assumed the lead after the flight leader aborted. He turned the wing back 30 miles into Germany when the 303rd BG aborted, leaving only 26 aircraft in formation, which was fewer than he was authorized to lead into enemy territory. After turning back, the wing was attacked by 40-50 enemy aircraft of various types. Bombs were jettisoned into the North Sea rather than being dropped on occupied territory. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off. Comments: High Squadron deputy. Turned back with #2 & #3 engines unable to produce enough power to stay with the formation. |
N/A |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑29699 ⇗ | 547th | SO*D | OLD BATTLE AXE |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Frink, Horace Everett⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Co-pilot | Fields, Leon (NMI)⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Navigator | Hegstad, Lester Olaf⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Bombardier | Carlson, Clyde Pemberton⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Radio Operator | Griffith, Roy Wesley⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Ralston, William Clark⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Ball Turret | Shelton, William Abner, Jr⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Tail Gunner | Retherford, Archie (NMI), Jr⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Savage, Clyde Henry⇗ | 547 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | McNutt, Julius Frederick⇗ | 547 | Aborted |