| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑09‑17 | 195 | 637 | Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical Type: Military Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands |
| Tactical Support Mission: The 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was tasked to provide six squadrons, A thru F, for today's mission against tactical targets in The Netherlands in support of ground troops. These squadrons formed two groups which flew to their target areas. The first group (A, B, and C squadrons) attacked a single assigned target at Eindhoven, the C squadron having to make a second bomb run because the bombardier had the bomb rack selector switch OFF on the first run, so bombs did not release. The other group was assigned targets near 's Hertogenbosch. The D Squadron attacked its assigned target and the E Squadron attacked its own assigned target. The F Squadron did not attack because the Bombardier was unable to pick up the target on the first run: a second bomb run was considered but not attempted because they would not have been able to comply with the bombing deadline of 1130 hrs. All squadrons returned to base independently. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return Comments: F Squadron lead. At 1122 hrs, prior to the IP, a direct flak burst hit the #2 engine, and the right wing caught fire. The aircraft exploded shortly before or on hitting the ground. Crashed near Liege, Belgium. MACR 10197 |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17G | 44‑8011 ⇗ | 547th | SO*J | MISBEHAVIN' |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Kelsay, Omar Frank⇗ | 547 |
Bailed Out Over Allied Territory |
| Co-pilot | Soester, Wilbur Leroy⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Navigator | Schold, George Bertie, Jr⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Bombardier | Parker, Max Franklin⇗ | 547 | POW |
| Radio Operator | Soto, Roman Serrano⇗ | 547 |
Bailed Out Over Allied Territory |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Pavlos, Nickolas Manuel⇗ | 547 | Evaded |
| Ball Turret | Schmeller, Thomas Raymond⇗ | 547 | KIA |
| Tail Gunner | Kelsey, Donald Edward⇗ | 547 |
Bailed Out Over Allied Territory |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Norstrom, John Julius⇗ | 547 |
Bailed Out Over Allied Territory |
| Observer | Ziegler, Pete Frank⇗ | 547 |
Bailed Out Over Allied Territory |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 10197⇗ |