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: | 42-29554 |
| Name: | BILLIE |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-60-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*Y |
| Start Date: | 21 August 1943. Transferred: Received from the 306th BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 19 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 19 February 1944. Transferred: Sent to RAF at Farnborough. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-29554 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | Originally named "MARYLAND, MY MARYLAND" while assigned to the 306th, apparently renamed "BILLIE" while at the 384th. |
| Research Notes: | The original 306th nose art consisting of "MARYLAND, MY MARYLAND" superimposed on what appears to be a map of the state is not in evidence in photos of this aircraft while assigned to the 384th. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18⇗ | 27 August 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Watten, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Had to leave formation when one bomb broke loose and lodged on bomb bay doors. Jettisoned it over the English Channel and returned to base. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 30 August 1943 | Achiet-le-Grand, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 19⇗ | 31 August 1943 | Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 21⇗ | 6 September 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Deanland, East Sussex, due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 22⇗ | 7 September 1943 | Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 September 1943 | Nantes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 26⇗ | 27 September 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Snetterton Heath Airfield, AAF Station 138, due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 27⇗ | 2 October 1943 | Target: Port Facilities Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 28⇗ | 4 October 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 29⇗ | 8 October 1943 | Target: Workshops Type: Submarine Facility Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 31⇗ | 10 October 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Münster, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Metfield due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 35⇗ | 5 November 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 11 November 1943 | Wesel, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| --⇗ | 13 November 1943 | Bremen, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 36⇗ | 16 November 1943 | Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine Type: Industry Location: Knaben, Norway | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 37⇗ | 26 November 1943 | Target: City Center Type: Non-Military Location: Bremen, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 38⇗ | 29 November 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Did Not Take Off | Did not take off; engines had insufficient oil pressure, and no Spare Aircraft were available. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 30 November 1943 | Solingen, Germany, RECALLED | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 39⇗ | 1 December 1943 | Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant Type: Industry Location: Solingen, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Molesworth. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 41⇗ | 11 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 42⇗ | 13 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 46⇗ | 24 December 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Croisette, France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 41-24525. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 47⇗ | 30 December 1943 | Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 54⇗ | 21 January 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Preuseville, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 January 1944 | Frankfurt am Main, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | A Grp Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 55⇗ | 29 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 56⇗ | 30 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 57⇗ | 3 February 1944 | Target: Submarines (under construction) Type: Submarine Facility Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back at 1029 hrs because #4 supercharger ran away, there was no boost on #3 supercharger, and #3 engine detonated and was smoking. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 59⇗ | 5 February 1944 | Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Orleans, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 60⇗ | 6 February 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Did Not Take Off | Did not take off. Sortie Report ⇗ |