| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑08‑12 | 14 | 81 | Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
| Many Enemy Fighters: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high group of the 103rd Combat Wing on today's mission. The formation was decimated by aborts and losses. Formation problems prevented attack on primary target. Unidentified military installations were bombed leaving primary target area. Heavy fighter attacks occurred for over an hour after the target. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: Damaged by enemy aircraft, crashed [SE of] Liblar, Germany. MACR 287 |
TOO (Visual) Target: Military Installations Type: Military Location: [Unidentified], Germany |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑3231 ⇗ | 545th | JD*M | THE INFERNO |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Carrington, Richard Thompson, Jr⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Co-pilot | Esty, Harvey Charles⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Navigator | Taber, Robin Everett⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Bombardier | Smithwick, Michael Hayes⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Brittain, Arthur Edward⇗ | 545 | MIA |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Schmidlapp, Phillip Elbert⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Ball Turret | Smalley, Win Richard⇗ | 545 | MIA |
| Tail Gunner | Parkins, Walter Carl⇗ | 545 | MIA |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Scholand, Joseph Anton⇗ | 545 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Wingate, Floyd Montell⇗ | 545 | MIA |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 287⇗ |