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: | 42-97271 |
| Name: | BOSS LADY |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-45-BO, Natural Metal Finish |
| Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*A |
| Start Date: | 25 April 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 87 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 20 March 1945. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 13565⇓ (13.331 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-97271 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-97271 Delivered to Cheyenne Modification Center, Colorado on 15 February 1944 then to Dalhart Army Airfield, Texas on 29 February 1944. Transferred to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine on 3 April 1944. Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code JD*A, 384th Bombardment Group, Station 106, Grafton Underwood, UK on 25 April 1944. The aircraft went Missing in Action on a mission to Hamburg on 30 March 1945 with Pilot-Gerald Warden Hicks who was Killed in Action (KIA); Copilot-Jesse William Hendricks, Navigator-Robert J. Thiefels, Togglier-John Anthony Gussin, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner-William L. Goodman, Radio Operator-Charles H. Winner, Ball Turret Gunner-Robert D. Grocki, Tail Gunner-Sherman Edward Meek and Flexible Gunner-Roger Walcott Jr. were taken prisoner. (8 POW). The aircraft was shot down by flak and crashed at Ramhausen, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 13565. Aircraft Name: BOSS LADY |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 100⇗ | 4 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead, lead group, 41st CBW. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 102⇗ | 8 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 10 May 1944 | Ehrang, Germany, RECALLED | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 105⇗ | 11 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 106⇗ | 12 May 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 108⇗ | 15 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 109⇗ | 19 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare aircraft 42‑37788. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 111⇗ | 21 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Returned To Base | Group B. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 113⇗ | 23 May 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | Ground Spare aircraft; replaced 42‑107083. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 114⇗ | 24 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Military Installations Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 116⇗ | 27 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 118⇗ | 28 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 119⇗ | 29 May 1944 | Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 123⇗ | 2 June 1944 | Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support Type: Military Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 124⇗ | 3 June 1944 | Target: Coastal Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Le Touquet, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 125⇗ | 4 June 1944 | Target: Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 126⇗ | 5 June 1944 | Target: Field Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: La Fosse, France | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 127⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Rocket Gun Installation Type: Military Location: 'Meuvaines' (actually, 1.3 miles SE of Crépon), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 | Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 131⇗ | 8 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France | Completed Mission | 41C Wing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 133⇗ | 12 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 | Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back over Deenethorpe when #4 engine caught fire and could not be feathered. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 136⇗ | 15 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: La Possonnièrre, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 137⇗ | 16 June 1944 | Target: Athies Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Laon, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 138⇗ | 18 June 1944 | Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles Type: Oil Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 140⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 141⇗ | 20 June 1944 | Target: Oil Refineries Type: Oil Industry Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 142⇗ | 21 June 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Composite High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 144⇗ | 22 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Lille (Fives district), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 145⇗ | 24 June 1944 | Target: German Vacuum Oil Company Type: Oil Industry Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 146⇗ | 25 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment Type: Transportation Location: Sens, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 149⇗ | 30 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Montdidier, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 150⇗ | 4 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 151⇗ | 6 July 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Coubronne, France | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 153⇗ | 7 July 1944 | Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany | Completed Mission | High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; tacked on to the low group of the 41st B wing and bombed with them. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 155⇗ | 11 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 156⇗ | 12 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back due to failure of #2 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 158⇗ | 16 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 159⇗ | 17 July 1944 | Target: Beautor Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Beautor, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | High group. Turned back at 0846 hrs due to #2 runaway prop. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 160⇗ | 18 July 1944 | Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 163⇗ | 21 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 165⇗ | 25 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel, & La Chapelle en Juger, France | Completed Mission | Lead Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 166⇗ | 28 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 167⇗ | 29 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Beccles, Suffolk, on return due to battle damage. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 185⇗ | 26 August 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | High group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 186⇗ | 30 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Crepieul, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 187⇗ | 3 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 188⇗ | 5 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 189⇗ | 8 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 190⇗ | 9 September 1944 | Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 191⇗ | 10 September 1944 | Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant Type: Industry Location: Sindelfingen, Germany | Completed Mission | Returned with #1 feathered. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 196⇗ | 19 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 197⇗ | 21 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mainz, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | B Wing, low group. Did not bomb because unable to see wing lead release bombs. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 199⇗ | 26 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Osnabrück, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 200⇗ | 27 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points) Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Tail wheel would not extend for landing. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 212⇗ | 17 October 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 213⇗ | 18 October 1944 | Target: Ford Motor Works Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 215⇗ | 25 October 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 216⇗ | 30 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 217⇗ | 1 November 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 218⇗ | 2 November 1944 | Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 221⇗ | 6 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 222⇗ | 8 November 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point) Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 223⇗ | 9 November 1944 | Target: Ground Installations Type: Military Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 227⇗ | 20 November 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron, 41st Bomb Wing D group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 228⇗ | 23 November 1944 | Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G. Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 229⇗ | 25 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 231⇗ | 27 November 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Offenburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 232⇗ | 29 November 1944 | Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Misburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 233⇗ | 30 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Zeitz, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 236⇗ | 6 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 237⇗ | 9 December 1944 | Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 238⇗ | 11 December 1944 | Target: Road & Rail Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 239⇗ | 12 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 240⇗ | 18 December 1944 | Target: Road Junction Type: Transportation Location: Gemünd, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 241⇗ | 19 December 1944 | Target: Railway Junction Type: Transportation Location: Glaadt, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Did not take off due to weather which deteriorated after lead aircraft took off. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 242⇗ | 23 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Ehrang, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Horham due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 243⇗ | 24 December 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Kirch Göns, Germany | Completed Mission | 13F Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 244⇗ | 27 December 1944 | Target: Bridge (Tactical) Type: Transportation Location: Altenahr, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 246⇗ | 30 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Limburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 247⇗ | 31 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Neuss, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 248⇗ | 1 January 1945 | Target: Oil Storage Depot Type: Oil Industry Location: Derben, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 249⇗ | 2 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gerolstein, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 250⇗ | 3 January 1945 | Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: St Vith, Belgium | Completed Mission | Low Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 251⇗ | 5 January 1945 | Target: Landing Ground Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 252⇗ | 7 January 1945 | Target: Enemy Strong Point Type: Military Location: Blankenheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 253⇗ | 8 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Type: Transportation Location: Kyllburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 255⇗ | 15 January 1945 | Target: Neuburg Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Neuburg an der Donau, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away on Continent at airstrip B-53 (Merville, France) on return, with #3 and #4 engines out. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 284⇗ | 9 March 1945 | Target: Henschel Tank and Locomotive Works Type: Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 286⇗ | 11 March 1945 | Target: Vacuum Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 287⇗ | 12 March 1945 | Target: Railway Center Type: Transportation Location: Betzdorf, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 288⇗ | 14 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River Type: Transportation Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 290⇗ | 17 March 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bohlen (Leipzig), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 291⇗ | 18 March 1945 | Target: Schlesischer Railway Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 292⇗ | 19 March 1945 | Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bohlen, Germany | Completed Mission | 41C Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 293⇗ | 20 March 1945 | Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard Type: Submarine Facility Location: Hamburg, Germany | Failed To Return | Lead Squadron. Hit by flak at 1655 hrs in #2 engine during withdrawal; was thrown out of formation to the right and dropped 7000ft; was last seen heading for the deck, apparently under control with no feathered props. Crashed near Ramhausen, Germany (northwest of Hamburg). MACR 13565 Sortie Report ⇗ |