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: | 42-31045 |
| Name: | Not Known |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-1-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 546th‑BK*M |
| Ground Crew Chief: | McKinney, Lauren Lee |
| Start Date: | 29 November 1943. Transferred: Received from the 305th BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 15 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 8 February 1944. Salvaged: Crash-landed on ferry flight to 2 SAD Little Staughton when gear failed to extend. |
| Related Documents: | Accident Report # 44-02-08-506⇓ (2.701 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-31045 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-31045 Delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming for modification on 10 September 1943; Grand Island, Nebraska on 1 November 1943. Ferried overseas and assigned to the 305th Bombardment Group, station 105, Chelveston, UK on 11 November 1943 then transferred to the 546th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code BK-M, 384th Bombardment Group, station 106, Grafton Underwood on 29 November 1943. While on a ferry trip to station 127, Second Advanced Air depot (2 SAD), station 127, Little Staughton for installation of GEE equipment on 8 February 1944 with pilot-Henry V. Markow, co-pilot-Edward Lundgren, navigator-John W. Schweikart, engineer/top turret gunner-Owen G. Atkinson, passenger-Captain Arthur Poley and passenger-Lt George J. Hackett (7 Returned to Duty), the landing gear failed to function correctly so the pilot was forced to crash land at Little Staughton. The aircraft was salvaged on 17 February 1944. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40⇗ | 5 December 1943 | Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France | Returned To Base | 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 | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 43⇗ | 16 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 44⇗ | 20 December 1943 | Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 45⇗ | 22 December 1943 | Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Osnabrück, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 46⇗ | 24 December 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Croisette, France | Completed Mission | Composite group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 48⇗ | 31 December 1943 | Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship) Type: Transportation Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France | Completed Mission | Landed away at Chelveston; bombs jettisoned. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 49⇗ | 4 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Flying Spare. Joined formation, then turned back because of an oxygen system failure. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 50⇗ | 5 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 51⇗ | 7 January 1944 | Target: Powerhouse Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 52⇗ | 11 January 1944 | Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 53⇗ | 14 January 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Le Meillard, France | 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 | B Grp Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 55⇗ | 29 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Low group Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 56⇗ | 30 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 57⇗ | 3 February 1944 | Target: Submarines (under construction) Type: Submarine Facility Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | High group, 41st A Combat Wing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 59⇗ | 5 February 1944 | Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Orleans, France | Flight Completed | Weather aircraft; crewmembers not identified. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 60⇗ | 6 February 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 8 February 1944 | Ferrying (Non-Combat) | Crashed In Allied Territory | This aircraft was being sent to 2AAD Little Staughton, AAF Station 127 in Bedfordshire to have GEE equipment installed. After takeoff from Grafton Underwood, the main gear retracted normally, but upon arrival in the Little Staughton area it was found that the left main gear would not operate, either electrically or manually. After attempts to lower the left gear failed, the pilot was ordered to make a belly landing at Little Staughton, which was accomplished without injury to crew: the aircraft was salvaged shortly after. Sortie Report ⇗ |