| 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 Comments: High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; tacked on to the low group of the 41st B wing and bombed with them. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 42‑37974 ⇗ | 544th | SU*M | SECTION 8 |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Combs, William Felix⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | MacKenzie, Hugh Douglas⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Seals, Patton Briscoe⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Togglier | Benson, Olin Ray⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Gordon, Clifford McDaniel⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Owen, Lorenzo Holland⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Needle, Joseph (NMI)⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Fadda, John Stanley⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Flower, Merlin Lee⇗ | 544 | Completed, Uninjured |