SORTIE REPORT #5911
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑08‑24 183 568 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Oil Pressure: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided all three groups of the 41st C Combat Bombardment Wing on today's mission. The 8th AF continued to decimate the enemy's fuel supply by attacking this giant chemical complex. The C wing was to follow the A and B wings, but over the North Sea, they caught up and passed both, leading them from the enemy coast, for the rest of the mission. This was apparently due to the wings making different adjustments for cloud layers, and perhaps navigation errors. Although the 384th was prepared for a target obscured by clouds and smoke screen, there was sufficient visibility for visual bombing.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: Low Squadron deputy, high group.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 43‑38062 544th SU*A PLEASURE BENT
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Shwery, Arthur John 544 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Blankenmeyer, William J 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Obermeyer, Robert Henry 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Kowalski, Theodore (NMI) 544 Seriously Wounded
Radio Operator Fictum, Blair Eugene 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret DeMesquita, Seymour Aron 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Work, Robert Elijah 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Hoyman, Robert H 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner McDonald, Donald Thomas 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 5911 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 15 May 2025, 8:45 PM (PDT)
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