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: | 42-3216 |
| Name: | THE JOKER |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17F-35-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*S |
| Start Date: | 15 April 1943. Original AC: Start Date is approximate.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 17 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 14 October 1943. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 841⇓ (17.212 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-3216 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-3216 Delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming [for modification] on 1 April 1943. Moved to Dow Field (Bangor Army Air Field) Bangor, Maine on 13 May 1943. Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code JD-S, 384th Bombardment Group, Grafton Underwood, Station 106, UK on 29 May 1943. Missing In Action (MIA) on a mission to Schweinfurt on 14 October 1943 with Pilot William E. Kopf, Copilot Alfred W. Scott Jr., Navigator Toscha M. Massey, Ball Turret Gunner Clyde Smith, Waist Gunner Leeroy Bernard, Waist Gunner Anthony P. Perroni, Tail Gunner Elton William Buddemeyer 7 Killed In Action (KIA), Bombardier-Eugene Warren Connor, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner-Hugh Mauritho, Radio Operator-Herbert Eugene Yeryar; 3 Evaded (EVD). Enemy aircraft blew off the nose of the aircraft which crashed at Rambluzin-Meuse, 11 miles South of Verdun, France. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 841. Aircraft Name: THE JOKER. |
| Bits & Pieces: |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1⇗ | 22 June 1943 | Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium | Completed Mission | Tail gunner's feet were frostbitten. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 2⇗ | 25 June 1943 | Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑30143 Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 3⇗ | 26 June 1943 | Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back with #3 engine running rough, low oil pressure and smoking; feathered engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 4⇗ | 28 June 1943 | Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 5⇗ | 29 June 1943 | Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 7⇗ | 10 July 1943 | Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 9⇗ | 24 July 1943 | Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants Type: Industry Location: Herøya, Norway | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead, group deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 12⇗ | 29 July 1943 | Target: Naval Base Type: Military Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Wing lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 13⇗ | 30 July 1943 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3259. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 14⇗ | 12 August 1943 | Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Group lead. Bomb bay doors wouldn't open on bomb run; bombs dropped on target of opportunity 30 west of Gelsenkirchen. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 15⇗ | 15 August 1943 | Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 16⇗ | 16 August 1943 | Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 17⇗ | 17 August 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 August 1943 | Diversion (Non-Combat) | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑5843. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 2 September 1943 | Vannes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 20⇗ | 3 September 1943 | Target: Air Park and Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 21⇗ | 6 September 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 22⇗ | 7 September 1943 | Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium | Completed Mission | Group deputy lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 23⇗ | 9 September 1943 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Lille-Vendeville, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 24⇗ | 16 September 1943 | Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River) Type: Transportation Location: Nantes, France | Completed Mission | Group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 21 September 1943 | Riems, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 September 1943 | Nantes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | William A. Jones Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 26⇗ | 27 September 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | One engine went out before the target, and a second was hit by flak. A third engine quit on the way home. The crew threw as much as possible overboard, and the pilot was able to bring it in on one engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 29⇗ | 8 October 1943 | Target: Workshops Type: Submarine Facility Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 30⇗ | 9 October 1943 | Target: Aircraft Factories Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Anklam, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 41-24529. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 31⇗ | 10 October 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Münster, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 13 October 1943 | Emden, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 32⇗ | 14 October 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Failed To Return | Damaged by enemy aircraft; exploded and crashed near Dilsen, Belgium; MACR 841. Sortie Report ⇗ |