Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Serial Number: | 42-107057 |
| Name: | SPIRIT OF 96 |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-35-DL, Natural Metal Finish |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 546th‑BK*T |
| Ground Crew Chief: | Priesnitz, Frank Joseph, Jr |
| Start Date: | 11 April 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 55 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 25 September 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 9414⇓ (19.951 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-107057 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-107057 Del Tulsa 8/2/44; Gr Island 19/2/44; Presque Is 5/3/44; Ass 546BS/384BG [BK-T] Grafton Underwood 11/4/44; MIA Frankfurt 25/9/44 w/Noel Plowman, Larry Ferguson, Ed Cheresnik, Carl Hart, Gordon Maxa (5KIA); Bob Cameron, Armando Oliva, Frank Anderson, Ken Lentz (4POW); flak, cr Wiesbaden, Ger; MACR 9414. SPIRIT OF '96. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90⇗ | 18 April 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 91⇗ | 19 April 1944 | Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 94⇗ | 24 April 1944 | Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑97637, and Stoulil Crew. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 95⇗ | 25 April 1944 | Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Metz, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 96⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 97⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 98⇗ | 29 April 1944 | Target: Industrial District Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 99⇗ | 1 May 1944 | Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 100⇗ | 4 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 101⇗ | 7 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead, low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 103⇗ | 8 May 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Low Squadron lead. Took off but landed right away because of a short circuit. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 104⇗ | 9 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Thionville, France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑97251. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 10 May 1944 | Ehrang, Germany, RECALLED | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑107064. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 106⇗ | 12 May 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back when #2 supercharger failed. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 109⇗ | 19 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 111⇗ | 21 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Completed Mission | Group A. Landed away at RAF Wratting Common, Cambridgeshire, on return. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 112⇗ | 22 May 1944 | Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 113⇗ | 23 May 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 114⇗ | 24 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Military Installations Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Ground Spare aircraft. Replaced 42‑97447. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 115⇗ | 25 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France | Spare, Completed Mission | 41B Group, Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 116⇗ | 27 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 118⇗ | 28 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 119⇗ | 29 May 1944 | Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 122⇗ | 2 June 1944 | Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support Type: Military Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 124⇗ | 3 June 1944 | Target: Coastal Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Le Touquet, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 125⇗ | 4 June 1944 | Target: Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France | Spare, Completed Mission | Low Group Flying Spare. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 126⇗ | 5 June 1944 | Target: Field Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: La Fosse, France | Completed Mission | High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 128⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Two Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Caen, France | Completed Mission | M Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 | Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France | Spare, Completed Mission | Lead Group Flying Spare. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 131⇗ | 8 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France | Completed Mission | 41D Group. Bombed Primary Target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 132⇗ | 10 June 1944 | Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 133⇗ | 12 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 | Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France | Completed Mission | Landed away at Kimbolton, AAF Station 117, on return, due to bad weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 | Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France | Completed Mission | 41B Wing, Lead Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 138⇗ | 18 June 1944 | Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles Type: Oil Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 139⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 140⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 141⇗ | 20 June 1944 | Target: Oil Refineries Type: Oil Industry Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97521. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 142⇗ | 21 June 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 145⇗ | 24 June 1944 | Target: German Vacuum Oil Company Type: Oil Industry Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy, high group, 41st A wing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 148⇗ | 28 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France | Completed Mission | High group, 41st A wing. Landed away at Lavenham, AAF Station 137, on return due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 149⇗ | 30 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Montdidier, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 164⇗ | 24 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France | Completed Mission | High section lead, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 165⇗ | 25 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel, & La Chapelle en Juger, France | Completed Mission | Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 167⇗ | 29 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 168⇗ | 31 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 169⇗ | 1 August 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France | Completed Mission | Low Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 170⇗ | 3 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France | Completed Mission | H Group Hot Camera Ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 171⇗ | 4 August 1944 | Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. One bomb dropped between IP and target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 173⇗ | 5 August 1944 | Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Langenhagen, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑31222. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 174⇗ | 7 August 1944 | Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dugny (Paris), France | Completed Mission | High group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 177⇗ | 11 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France | Completed Mission | High group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 183⇗ | 24 August 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 184⇗ | 25 August 1944 | Target: Airfield & Airpark Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Anklam, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 185⇗ | 26 August 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 186⇗ | 30 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Crepieul, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back; #1 engine failed. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 188⇗ | 5 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Hot camera ship, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 189⇗ | 8 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 190⇗ | 9 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 191⇗ | 10 September 1944 | Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant Type: Industry Location: Sindelfingen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 192⇗ | 11 September 1944 | Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | 41A Group, Flying Spare. Aborted due to #4 engine failure on takeoff. Jettisoned bombs and returned to base. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 195⇗ | 17 September 1944 | Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical Type: Military Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands | Completed Mission | D Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 196⇗ | 19 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 197⇗ | 21 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mainz, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Failed To Return | Hit by flak, crashed near Wiesbaden, Germany; MACR 9414 Sortie Report ⇗ |