SORTIE REPORT #963
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1943‑11‑16 36 131 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Several Bomb Runs: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) led the 41st Combat Wing and 1st Bomb Division on today's mission. From the Division Leader's Narrative: 'We dropped down to 14,000 feet to bomb and did not drop any lower because the low Group would be in the clouds. We could not find the target. None of the other Groups seemed to be able to find it either, so we went back out to the coastline to orient ourselves. We came back in, and thought we were on the target, but we were not sure, so we did not drop our bombs. We made three more bomb runs on the target trying to release our bombs, but they would not release, so on the last run we had our Deputy drop his bombs on signal from the lead plane, and the others dropped on him.'
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: High Squadron lead.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17F 42‑3429 544th SU*F FLAK HOUSE
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Estes, Thomas Jefferson 544 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Mills, William J (IO), Jr 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator DuBois, John Jay 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Baggs, Joseph William 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Wagner, Fred S 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Cochran, David Leon 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Ursta, George (NMI) 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner McDuffie, Burton Curtis 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Self, James Melvin, Jr 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Van Riper, Charles (NMI), Jr 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 963 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 17 December 2024, 5:56 PM (PST)
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