SORTIE REPORT #4042
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑06‑14 135 412 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Clouds Cover Primary: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing (41B Wing) and the High Group of the 41st D Combat Bombardment Wing (41D Group) on today's mission. The primary and secondary targets of the 41B Wing were hidden by 10/10 cloud cover, so a target of opportunity (TOO), the airfield at Creil, was bombed by the Lead and High groups: the Low group was forced out of position by sudden maneuvers by the Wing Lead and were unable to follow him on the bomb run to the TOO, resulting in no attack by the Low Group. The High and Low groups returned to England in formation with the Wing ahead of them in the bomber stream. Weather prevented the 41D Group from attacking the primary. After three runs on the primary target, contact with the Lead group was lost, and a decision was made to attempt to find the secondary target. However, weather conditions there were similar, so all bombs were returned to base. Also, because this group had lost contact with its Wing, it returned to base alone.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: 41B Wing, High Group Lead.
TOO (Visual)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Criel, France
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑97941 545th JD*D MARION
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Parks, Oattis Elwyn 545 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Morris, Gordon (NMI) 545 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Rovero, Aldo John 545 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Burcham, Eugene Emmons 545 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Doran, Francis Patrick 545 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Holland, James Alvin 545 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Zelazoski, Bernard Leo 545 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Hailey, Millie Zo, Jr 545 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Gale, Verlin Clinton 545 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Trumbo, James Donovan 545 Completed, Uninjured
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