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: | 42-5444 |
| Name: | WE DOOD IT |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-50-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*N |
| Start Date: | 11 August 1943. Transferred: Received from the 403 AD, Langford Lodge.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 24 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 30 January 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 2263⇓ (3.481 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-5444 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-5444 Delivered to Tulsa Army Airfield, Oklahoma on 10 December 1942. Moved to Salina [Smoky Hill Army Air field], Kansas on 7 January 1943 [for modification]. Assigned to the 360th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code PU-C, 303rd Bombardment Group at Molesworth, Station 107, UK on 2 June 1943. Transferred to the 403rd Air Depot [3rd Base Air Depot] at Langford Lodge, Station 597 on 5 July 1943. Transferred to the 545th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code JD-N, 384th Bombardment Group at Grafton Underwood, Station 106 on 11 August 1943. The aircraft went Missing In Action on a mission to Brunswick on 30 January 1943 with Copilot Francis P. Nelson, Engineer/Top Turret Everett L. Bartholomew, Tail Gunner Robert A. Grimes, 3 POW; Pilot Burton R. Ross, Navigator Arthur L. Canziani, Bombardier James E. Seibel, Radio Operator Edward D. Davis, Ball Turret Gunner Robert E. Ralph, Waist Gunner J. T. Bishop, Waist Gunner Thomas J. Venzia, 7 Killed In Action (KIA). The ship was attacked by enemy aircraft, blew up. It crashed at Minden, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 2263. Aircraft Name: WE DOOD IT. |
| Bits & Pieces: |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15⇗ | 15 August 1943 | Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 16⇗ | 16 August 1943 | Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 17⇗ | 17 August 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Earls Colne, AAF Station 358, on return. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 August 1943 | Diversion (Non-Combat) | Returned To Base | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 18⇗ | 27 August 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Watten, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 2 September 1943 | Vannes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 20⇗ | 3 September 1943 | Target: Air Park and Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 21⇗ | 6 September 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Deanland, East Sussex, due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 22⇗ | 7 September 1943 | Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 23⇗ | 9 September 1943 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Lille-Vendeville, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 21 September 1943 | Riems, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 September 1943 | Nantes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | LSqLd Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 27⇗ | 2 October 1943 | Target: Port Facilities Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑5086. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 28⇗ | 4 October 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Landed 5 minutes after takeoff. Replaced AC with 41-24560. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 29⇗ | 8 October 1943 | Target: Workshops Type: Submarine Facility Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑24560. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 31⇗ | 10 October 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Münster, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Kings Cliffe due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 32⇗ | 14 October 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 33⇗ | 20 October 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Düren, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 34⇗ | 3 November 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 11 November 1943 | Wesel, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 37⇗ | 26 November 1943 | Target: City Center Type: Non-Military Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 42⇗ | 13 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group, high Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 43⇗ | 16 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 45⇗ | 22 December 1943 | Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Osnabrück, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 46⇗ | 24 December 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Croisette, France | Completed Mission | Maj. Ketelsen Flight Leader Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 48⇗ | 31 December 1943 | Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship) Type: Transportation Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France | Completed Mission | Group lead, because lead ship had to be replaced; Capt Frink transferred to this ship. Landed away at Kimbolton; bombs returned. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 49⇗ | 4 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 50⇗ | 5 January 1944 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Wing lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 51⇗ | 7 January 1944 | Target: Powerhouse Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back at 1025 hrs due to runaway supercharger on #3 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 52⇗ | 11 January 1944 | Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 53⇗ | 14 January 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Le Meillard, France | Completed Mission | Group deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 January 1944 | Frankfurt am Main, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | A Grp Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 55⇗ | 29 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 56⇗ | 30 January 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany | Failed To Return | Low group high Squadron. Last seen at 1146 hrs, six minutes before the IP, being attacked by FW 190s and began falling away from the formation where he burst into flames, but continued on and dropped bombs on target; three chutes seen to emerge; crashed near Oberkirchen, Germany. Casualties buried in Meinsen. MACR 2263 Sortie Report ⇗ |