Aircraft and Crew Losses

MACRs and ARs

Losses of crew and aircraft were reported in two ways: a Missing Air Crew Report (MACR), or an Accident Report (AR). When the loss occurred entirely within allied-controlled territory, and all crew, as well as the aircraft itself, were secured under allied control, an Accident Report was used. Beginning on 11 June 1943, if any of the crew, or the aircraft itself, were lost in enemy-controlled territory or was reported missing with location unknown, a MACR was required to be generated and filed within 48 hours of the loss. Additional discussion of MACRs, and a NARA microfilm index, are contained in NARA Report M1380, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) of the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942-1947. MACRs typically contain abbreviated annotations, which this printable key will help explain.

Below is a list of all known 384th BG losses, of both types, in chronological order. A brief summary page lists the salient information about the event, while the full "official" report - a much larger file - is available for download (if found in US Government Archives).

The information contained in a typical MACR includes the date, time, and location that the crew and aircraft were last seen or reported missing from the formation. Details about aircraft incidents were taken from statements given by crew members from other aircraft flying in the same formation. These statements usually mentioned whether any parachutes were seen to have opened and how many airmen exited the aircraft before it crashed. The names of the air crew members are listed by crew position, rank, serial number, and known status such as MIA or POW. Often the MACR contains translated German documents related to the downing of the aircraft and disposition of the crew.

Additional information included in the MACR is the aircraft AAF serial number, nickname, squadron identification letter, and the type, model, and serial numbers of the engines and machine guns. The name of the assigned air base and numbered unit (squadron, group, or air force) to which an aircraft belonged also appears in the MACR.

The "Summary" reports below are a single webpage, suitable for printing or saving as PDF files. Click on a "summary" link to view the report in a new window. The full reports are in PDF format, and require a PDF reader.

There are 224 Losses Listed