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: | 42-3231 |
| Name: | THE INFERNO |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17F-40-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*M |
| Start Date: | 15 April 1943. Original AC: Start Date is approximate.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 7 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 12 August 1943. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 287⇓ (21.188 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-3231 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-3231 Delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming [for modification] on 2 April 1943. Moved to Dow Field (Bangor Army Air Field), Bangor, Maine on 25 May 1943. Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code JD-M, 384th Bombardment Group, Grafton Underwood, Station 106, UK on 28 May 1943. Missing In Action (MIA) on a mission to Gelsenkirchen on 12 August 1943 with Pilot Richard T. Carrington Jr., Copilot Harvey C. Esty, Navigator Robin E. Taber, Bombardier Michael H. Smithwick, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Philip E. Schmidlapp, Waist Gunner Joseph A. Scholand, 6 POW; Radio Operator Arthur E. Brittain, Ball Turret Gunner Win R. Smalley, Waist Gunner Floyd M. Wingate, Tail Gunner Walter C. Parkins, 4 Killed In Action (KIA). The aircraft was shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at Erfstadt, near Liblar, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 287. Aircraft Name: THE INFERNO |
| 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 | Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 2⇗ | 25 June 1943 | Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30037. Did not take off. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 3⇗ | 26 June 1943 | Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 5⇗ | 29 June 1943 | Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron Lead, Group Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 6⇗ | 4 July 1943 | Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France | Completed Mission | Group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 9 July 1943 | Abbeville, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 7⇗ | 10 July 1943 | Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 July 1943 | Hamburg, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 11⇗ | 28 July 1943 | Target: Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 14⇗ | 12 August 1943 | Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Failed To Return | Damaged by enemy aircraft, crashed [SE of] Liblar, Germany. MACR 287 Sortie Report ⇗ |