| 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) |
| No |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off. Comments: Had to leave formation when one bomb broke loose and lodged on bomb bay doors. Jettisoned it over the English Channel and returned to base. |
N/A |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑29554 ⇗ | 545th | JD*Y | BILLIE |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Ingles, John Thomas⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Co-pilot | Pratt, Harry Mitchell⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Navigator | Ruman, Charles Logan⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Bombardier | Mason, Earl Carter⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Radio Operator | Smith, Lawrence Waith, Jr⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Morrison, Clarence Theodore⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Ball Turret | Farley, John Francis⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Tail Gunner | Brescia, Alfred Joseph⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Spaulding, Charles Arnold⇗ | 544 | Aborted |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Janes, Carl Warner⇗ | 544 | Aborted |