SORTIE REPORT #3456
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑05‑28 118 376 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
The "Grapefruit" Mission: For the second mission of the day - identified as 'Grapefruit Mission' in Group records - the 384th Bombardment Group (H) formed the High Group of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing, the sole wing comprising Air Task Force 5. This was an experimental attack using first-generation glide bombs. The primary target is identified as 'Railroad Marshaling Yards' or 'Industrial Center of City' in various Group documents. A great deal of practice and experimentation was involved in preparing crews and equipment for this mission. Results were inconclusive; however, it should be noted that the 384th did not repeat an attack of this type again.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: Group Deputy.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑107125 545th JD*G DOASY DOATS
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Helmley, Loyd Elmer 545 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Keate, Richard Clifford 545 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Kane, William Francis 545 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Kinney, William Brownie 545 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Geriak, John (NMI) 545 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Orth, Jay Shaffer 545 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Wood, David Albert 545 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Edwards, William Leroy 545 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Pelkey, Arthur Symonds, Jr 545 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 3456 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
SortieEngine.php Rev. 3.3.2, 22 June 2022
Report generated: 1 February 2025, 4:38 PM (PST)
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