SORTIE REPORT #3277
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑05‑22 112 361 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Docks Area Attacked: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) led the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing on today's mission. The bombardier decided not to drop bombs on the assigned aiming point as it had apparently been destroyed by bombs from previous groups, and was completely obscured by smoke and clouds. Instead, he aimed at a warehouse district adjacent to the destroyed area.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Failed To Return
Comments: Low Squadron Deputy. At 1308, seven minutes after bombs-away, peeled off from formation; #1 and #2 engines feathered; went into spin, damaged by enemy aircraft; crashed near Rethwisch-Feld/Oldesloe, Germany. MACR 495
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑102402 547th SO*L not known
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Castleman, Milton Eugene 547 POW
Co-pilot Hickey, Jack Franklin 547 POW
Navigator Hepp, Eugene Francis 547 POW
Bombardier Merkley, Ronald Charles 547 POW
Radio Operator Hardman, John Bethany 547 POW
Engineer/Top Turret Stevens, Howard Orville 547 POW/Wounded
Ball Turret Cook, Herbert Arno 547 POW
Tail Gunner Fitch, John Gilmore 547 KIA
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Markiewicz, John Henry 547 POW
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
MACRMissing Air Crew Report # 4954
Sortie Report 3277 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 28 March 2024, 3:40 AM (PDT)
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