| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1945‑02‑03 | 264 | 817 | Target: Tempelhof Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany |
| Transportation Targeted: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the 41st B Combat Wing on today's mission. Unusual clear weather permitted accurate visual bombing. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Failed To Return: Ditched Comments: High Squadron. Aircraft left formation after bombs away with one engine feathered, damaged by flak. Dropped behind formation and appeared headed for Russian lines, but ditched in the North Sea. 2nd Lt. Robert C. Long received posthumous award of Silver Star, for his selfless efforts to save his crew after ditching. See 'As Briefed...' page 201. MACR 15315 |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | |||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME | GROUND CREW CHIEF |
| B-17G | 42‑102501 ⇗ | 546th | BK*H | THE CHALLENGER | Watterson, Arnold (NMI) |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Long, Robert Clay⇗ | 546 | KIA |
| Co-pilot | Vrana, Ralph John⇗ | 546 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Navigator | Field, Edward (NMI)⇗ | 546 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Togglier | Rudolph, Marvin Irving⇗ | 546 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Radio Operator | Maki, Fred Arnold⇗ | 546 | MIA |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Oglesby, Howard Jasper⇗ | 546 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Ball Turret | Cook, Jack Coleman⇗ | 546 | KIA |
| Tail Gunner | Davis, Thomas Arnold⇗ | 546 | Ditched, Rescued |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Duncan, Donald Ramsey⇗ | 546 | Ditched, Rescued |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| MACR | Missing Air Crew Report # 15315⇗ |
| Story | Minor Accident of War |