| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑08‑27 | 18 | 87 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Watten, France |
| No Attack: Mechanical Failure: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high group of the 103rd Combat Wing on today's mission. During the bomb run, the linkage between the bombsight and the Automatic Flight Control Equipment (AFCE) failed. It was too late to either transition to manual control or to transfer the lead to the group deputy (whose bombardier was never able to see the target). A second run was considered, but not undertaken due to the risk inherent in making the run without support of other groups in the wing. Consequently, as required by bombing SOP over occupied territory, the bombs were held, except for the Aufmuth Crew, who accidentally dropped two bombs. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission Comments: Low Squadron lead. |
No Target Attacked |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑3441 ⇗ | 547th | SO*E | PATCHES II / SPOTTED COW |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Estes, Thomas Jefferson⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Merritt, James Melvin⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | DuBois, John Jay⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Cecil, Boyd Allen⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Wagner, Fred S⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Cochran, David Leon⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Ursta, George (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | McDuffie, Burton Curtis⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Van Riper, Charles (NMI), Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Self, James Melvin, Jr⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |