SORTIE REPORT #969
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 Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17F 42‑5051 544th SU*M BARREL HOUSE BESSIE
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Commander Gilmore, William Featherston 544 Completed, Uninjured
Pilot Morrison, Donald Sylvester 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Ohlson, Floyd Henry 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Mason, Earl Carter 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Striesfeld, Nathan (NMI) 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Henry, Maurice Victor 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Engwer, Donald Leroy 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Schamber, Albert Martin 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Bucher, James Frank 544 Completed, Uninjured
Observer Mazer, Nathan Herschel 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 969 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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