SORTIE REPORT #471
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1943‑08‑31 19 88 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France
Target Hidden, Bombs Held: The 384th Bombardment Group had eighteen (18) aircraft airborne as scheduled; take-off time being 1544 o'clock, a delay in take-off resulted as the leader's airplane blew a tail wheel tire in taxiing to take-off position. This group climbed through the overcast and arrived at the rendezvous point on time where it was joined by the other groups. Due to complete cloud coverage [at the primary target], a turn was made to pick out a target of opportunity, unable to do so, this group returned to the home base with their bombs.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: Wing Lead for 41st Combat Bombardment Wing. Col. Peaslee and Capt. Martin-Vegue moved to this deputy lead aircraft, displacing co-pilot Lt Yelvington, after 42‑3441 blew a tailwheel while taxiing for takeoff. This move also displaced Major Cotterell (British Army observer) to 42‑30043.
No Target Attacked
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17F 42‑5852 547th SO*T THE NATURAL
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Peaslee, Budd John GpHQ Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Sprague, Alfred Lee 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Baldwin, Pendleton Gaines 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Martin-Vegue, James Raymond GpHQ Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Pierce, Kermit Aubrey 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Anderson, Clarence Denton 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Marshall, Dean William 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Stearman, Charles Lee Verne 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Aune, Rudolph (NMI) 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Abramowitz, Abraham Bernhard 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Redding, George Thomas 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 471 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 19 August 2025, 1:08 PM (PDT)
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