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: | 42-37781 |
| Name: | SILVER DOLLAR |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-10-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 546th‑BK*U |
| Ground Crew Chiefs: |
Priesnitz, Frank Joseph, Jr McKinney, Lauren Lee |
| Start Date: | 2 November 1943. Transferred: Received from 1 BAD, Burtonwood.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 5 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 9 March 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 3005⇓ (31.437 MB) Accident Report # 43-12-26-507⇓ (1.822 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-37781 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-37781 Del Denver 26/8/43; Gr Island 18/9/43; ass 303BG Molesworth 19/10/43; 1 BAD 23/10/43; tran 546BS/384BG [BK-U] Grafton Underwood 2/11/43, after 544/5BS; MIA Berlin 9/3/44 w/Merlin Reed, cp-Bruce Rininsland, n-Pete Gudyka, b-John Heiss, ettg-Bob Johnson, ro-Bob Wellman, wg-Joe Jacobson, tg-Emmett Hardy (8KIA); btg-Art Osepchook, wg-John Plotz (2POW); hit by bomb from above whick knocked off tailplane, cr Marienfeld, nr Berlin; MACR 3005. SILVER DOLLAR. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38⇗ | 29 November 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at 'Coltishall' (or 'Cottishall'). Intelligence Officer report, item 6, includes the statement: 'A/C 781, Lt. TAYLOR, Pilot has reported one killed and three wounded men aboard at landing.' The wounded individuals are not identified. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 44⇗ | 20 December 1943 | Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 ⇗ |
| -- | 26 December 1943 | Training (Non-Combat) | Crashed In Allied Territory | Following a routine practice mission, the right main landing gear would not extend. Pilot was directed to fly to Little Staughton, AAF Station 127, and make a belly landing there. This was accomplished with no injury to crew. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 72⇗ | 6 March 1944 | Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High Squadron deputy, high group, 40th Composite Combat Bomb Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing. 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 | Failed To Return | Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. MACR 3005 Sortie Report ⇗ |