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: | 42-37801 |
| Name: | DYNAMITE EXPRESS |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17G-10-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 547th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 547th‑SO*G |
| Start Date: | 25 November 1943. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 20 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 16 March 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 3243⇓ (33.507 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-37801 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-37801 Del Denver 2/9/43; Gr Island 1/10/43; ass 547BS/384BG [SO-G] Grafton Underwood 25/11/43; MIA Oberpfaffenhofen 16/3/44 w/Edwin Ledbetter, cp-Tom Miles, n-Elvin Noxon, ettg-Gordon Neves, ro-Bob Webster, btg-Jim Walsh{fractured thigh}, wg-Ralph Haught, tg-Roy Cook (8POW); b-Ed Poremba, wg-Jim Johnson (2KIA); e/a, c/l N of Lhuitre, six miles S of Mailly-le-Camp, Fr; MACR 3243. THE DUCHESS aka DYNAMITE EXPRESS. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39⇗ | 1 December 1943 | Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant Type: Industry Location: Solingen, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 42⇗ | 13 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group, low Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 43⇗ | 16 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Polebrook. 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 | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 47⇗ | 30 December 1943 | Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 | Did Not Take Off | High Squadron lead; did not take off due to engine trouble. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 52⇗ | 11 January 1944 | Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Joined formation of the 401st BG and completed the mission. Landed away at RAF Mepal, Cambridgeshire, on return due to weather. 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 | Grp Y 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 high Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 57⇗ | 3 February 1944 | Target: Submarines (under construction) Type: Submarine Facility Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Returned Early | Low Group. Turned back because he lost the formation over enemy territory; jettisoned bombs over the North Sea (54°44'N,6°13'E) Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 | Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High group, 41st A Combat Wing. Turned back at 1055 due to uncontrollable supercharger on #2 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 60⇗ | 6 February 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 61⇗ | 8 February 1944 | Target: Piston Ring Factory Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Flying Spare. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 62⇗ | 11 February 1944 | Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry) Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back at 1011 hrs; #2 engine running rough and pulling 20" to 25". Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 63⇗ | 20 February 1944 | Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | 41A Group. Turned back; tail gunner fell ill. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 64⇗ | 21 February 1944 | Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Werl, Germany | Completed Mission | Wing deputy, 41st B Combat Wing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 65⇗ | 22 February 1944 | Target: Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | 41B Group, High Squadron Lead; landed away at RAF Eastchurch, Essex, due to severe snow storm. 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 | Completed Mission | Lead group, high Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 70⇗ | 3 March 1944 | Target: Roller-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 71⇗ | 4 March 1944 | Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back at 0955 hrs; oxygen failure; dropped from 350 lbs to 250 lbs in 30 minutes without use. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 72⇗ | 6 March 1944 | Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High group deputy, 40th Composite Combat 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 | Wing deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 75⇗ | 16 March 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany | Failed To Return | Aircraft observed jettisoning bombs and stayed in formation until target was reached where he left formation with all four engines going and appeared to be diving down into the low group; apparently damaged by flak; crashed near Lhuître, France. MACR 3243 Sortie Report ⇗ |