| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑07‑07 | 153 | 458 | Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany |
| Me-109 Factory Targeted: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided the high groups for the 41st A and B Combat Bombardment Wings on today's mission. The A group encountered little difficulty completing the mission as briefed, but the story was quite different for the B group. Following assembly, the 41st B CBW leader led the formation through a very heavy cloud layer, causing the formation to deteriorate. Once clear of the clouds, few 384th ships were able to locate any formation. Those who did tacked on to the low B group and bombed the target using PFF. In addition, two of our ships collided in the cloudy conditions, with fatal results. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Completed Mission, Some Crew Bailed Out Comments: High group, 41st A wing. Tailgunner bailed out during violent prop wash, apparently believing the aircraft was in trouble. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | |||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME | GROUND CREW CHIEF |
| B-17G | 42‑97273 ⇗ | 546th | BK*F | ACES & ATES | Konzem, Hubert Philip |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Pranger, Nicholas Vincent⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Vaden, Kenneth Underwood⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Cheresnik, Edward John⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Wolf, Charles Elmer, Jr⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Neyer, Ralph Richard⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Brooker, Cameron Hutchison⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Browne, Erle Royden⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Kidwell, Hugh Thomas⇗ | 546 | POW |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Sullivan, John Joseph⇗ | 546 | Completed, Uninjured |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 7454⇗ |