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: | 42-37793 |
| Name: | SPIRIT OF WINSOME WINN II |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-10-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 547th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 547th‑SO*X |
| Start Date: | 2 November 1943. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 13 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 18 March 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 3484⇓ (2.122 MB) The Spirit of Winsome Winn II⇗ |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-37793 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-37793 Del Denver 30/8/43; Scott 17/9/43; ass 547BS/384BG [SO-X] Grafton Underwood 2/11/43; on return from ops f/l at London Rd, Brighton, Sx, UK 8/2/44 w/Norman De Frees, crew unknown (10RTD); MIA Oberpfaffenhofen 18/3/44 w/Roger Smith, cp-Jack McKinney, n-Harry Harvey, b-John Dudla, ettg-Bruno Kaminski, ro-Earl Kendall, btg-Chas Danko, wg-Chester Boney, wg-Gerald Hamilton, tg-Jesse Green (10INT); flak, c/l small airfield at Altenrhein, nr Lake Constance, Switz; MACR 3843 (possibly 3484). SPIRIT OF WINSOME WINN II. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 ⇗ |
| 46⇗ | 24 December 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Croisette, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 47⇗ | 30 December 1943 | Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 49⇗ | 4 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying Spare; joined formation. 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 | 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 ⇗ |
| 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 | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑39962. 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 | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 60⇗ | 6 February 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back over field; oxygen system was going out. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 61⇗ | 8 February 1944 | Target: Piston Ring Factory Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Crash-landed on a golf course near Brighton, Sussex, on return; plane rtd to service after a month. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 76⇗ | 18 March 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany | Failed To Return | At 1440 hrs he turned from formation; at 1455 he called Group Leader that two engines were out and he was heading for Switzerland, escorted by P-38s through a mountain pass to the south; damage caused by flak; crash-landed at Altstetten, Switzerland. MACR 3484
From 303rd BG: '#1 engine would not feather, vibrated badly and ran away over target. Supercharger on #2 inoperative 30 minutes before initial point, was rough and lost oil. Supercharger on #3 did not function properly. Aircraft landed at Dubendorf [sic] wheels up. Destruction completed of secret equipment. Target was bombed.' Sortie Report ⇗ |