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: | 42-37776 |
| Name: | LADY DREW |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-10-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 546th‑BK*R |
| Ground Crew Chief: | Coon, Lawrence John |
| Start Date: | 2 November 1943. Transferred: Received from 1 BAD Burtonwood.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 33 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 16 July 1944. Transferred: Sent to the 486th BG. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-37776 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-37776 Del Denver 25/8/43; Gr Island 19/9/43; ass 303BG Molesworth 18/10/43; 1 BAD 23/10/43; tran 546BS/384BG [BK-R] Grafton Underwood 2/11/43; then 486BG Sudbury 16/7/44; retUS 21/3/45; 1103 BU Morrison 16/4/45; RFC Kingman 14/1/46. LADY DREW. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36⇗ | 16 November 1943 | Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine Type: Industry Location: Knaben, Norway | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 38⇗ | 29 November 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back; engines #1 and #3 running rough, as well as radio, interphone, and heated suits problems. 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 | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Low Squadron. Aborted due to excessive icing; aircraft stalled at 80mph and dropped 3000' after hitting propwash in icing conditions. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 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 | Unable to locate the 384th formation, joined the 306th BG (40th Combat Wing). 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 | Landed away at Attlebridge due to low fuel. 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 ⇗ |
| 47⇗ | 30 December 1943 | Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back at 1042 hrs because nose and windshields were completely blocked out by frost and throwing oil; 12x500GP rtd 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 Molesworth; bombs jettisoned. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 49⇗ | 4 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑3051. 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 ⇗ |
| 54⇗ | 21 January 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Preuseville, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 January 1944 | Frankfurt am Main, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | B Grp LSqLd Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 55⇗ | 29 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 ⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Returned Early | High group, 41st A Combat Wing. Turned back at 1113 hrs because #2 supercharger went wild at 26,000 ft at 1015 hrs and #2 prop fluctuated, so that #3 engine began to deteriorate and vibrate badly. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 63⇗ | 20 February 1944 | Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | 41A Group. Turned back; #2 supercharger ran away. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 64⇗ | 21 February 1944 | Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Werl, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy, lead group. Landed away at Horham on return with wounded tail gunner. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 68⇗ | 28 February 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Preuseville, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 69⇗ | 2 March 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Returned Early | Lead group, low Squadron deputy. Turned back at 1123 hrs when a burst of flak hit #4 engine, causing the oil pressure to drop and necessitating the feathering of the engine; #1 & #3 superchargers failed, and #2 lagged excessively. Bombs jettisoned in a wooded area at 50°11'N,3°40'E (Occupied France). Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 73⇗ | 8 March 1944 | Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 74⇗ | 9 March 1944 | Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 76⇗ | 18 March 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 77⇗ | 19 March 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Wizernes, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 80⇗ | 23 March 1944 | Target: Airdrome and Airpark Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Gütersloh, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 81⇗ | 24 March 1944 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 82⇗ | 26 March 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 83⇗ | 27 March 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Tours & Chartres, France | Completed Mission | 41 Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 84⇗ | 28 March 1944 | Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dijon, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 88⇗ | 11 April 1944 | Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Sorau, Germany | Completed Mission | Flying Spare Aircraft; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 90⇗ | 18 April 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 92⇗ | 20 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | A Wing, High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 21 April 1944 | Leuna, Germany, RECALLED | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 93⇗ | 22 April 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 95⇗ | 25 April 1944 | Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Metz, France | Completed Mission | Landed away at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, on return due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 96⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back due to inability to catch up to formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 97⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 99⇗ | 1 May 1944 | Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High Squadron Deputy. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑31435, after landing. Took off again but turned back near mid-channel at 0930 hrs because he could not locate formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 101⇗ | 7 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97081. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 10 May 1944 | Ehrang, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | High Grp A Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 105⇗ | 11 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 106⇗ | 12 May 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑97204. Took off late due to mechanical difficulty in assigned aircraft; joined 94th BG and bombed their primary target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 109⇗ | 19 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 111⇗ | 21 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 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 | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 114⇗ | 24 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Military Installations Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 118⇗ | 28 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 119⇗ | 29 May 1944 | Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97150. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 | Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 131⇗ | 8 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 | Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France | Completed Mission | 41B Wing, Low Group. 'Over the target four enemy fighters dove through the formation, shooting off a big chunk of this B-17's stabilizer; a shell went through her wing, grazing a gas tank and a mass of controls, but did no damage. When she reached her hardstand, the sub-depot boys had a new stabilizer there by the time the props stopped turning.' Sortie Report ⇗ |