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: | 42-97273 |
| Name: | ACES & ATES |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-45-BO, Natural Metal Finish |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 546th‑BK*F |
| Ground Crew Chief: | Konzem, Hubert Philip |
| Start Date: | 9 April 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 42 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 12 July 1944. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 7454⇓ (4.972 MB) Missing Air Crew Report # 7568⇓ (15.424 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-97273 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-97273 Del Cheyenne 15/2/44; Dalhart 1/3/44; Grenier 26/3/44; Ass 546BS/384BG [BK-F] Grafton Underwood 9/4/44; MIA Munich 12/7/44 w/Jim Roseborough, Vince Matlack, Howard Ford, Vic Brecht (4KIA); Seymour Saslow, John Fletcher, Lee Bedsted, Melvin Gerhold, Lou Raines (5POW); flak, cr Munich; MACR 7568. ACES & EIGHTS. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | 12 April 1944 | Schweinfurt, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 90⇗ | 18 April 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 91⇗ | 19 April 1944 | Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 92⇗ | 20 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑97320. This aircraft had inaccurate oil pressure transmitter. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 93⇗ | 22 April 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 95⇗ | 25 April 1944 | Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Metz, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 96⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 97⇗ | 27 April 1944 | Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 98⇗ | 29 April 1944 | Target: Industrial District Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 99⇗ | 1 May 1944 | Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 100⇗ | 4 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 101⇗ | 7 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 102⇗ | 8 May 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 10 May 1944 | Ehrang, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | HSqLd; High Grp A Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 105⇗ | 11 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany | Completed Mission | 41B Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 106⇗ | 12 May 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 107⇗ | 13 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory. Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Poznań, Poland | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy, low group 40th CBW. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 109⇗ | 19 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 111⇗ | 21 May 1944 | Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Mimoyecques, France | Completed Mission | Group A Low Squadron Lead. Landed away at RAF Wratting Common, Cambridgeshire, on return. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 112⇗ | 22 May 1944 | Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 113⇗ | 23 May 1944 | Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 114⇗ | 24 May 1944 | Target: Unidentified Military Installations Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 115⇗ | 25 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 116⇗ | 27 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 117⇗ | 28 May 1944 | Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 119⇗ | 29 May 1944 | Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland | Completed Mission | Low Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 122⇗ | 2 June 1944 | Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support Type: Military Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 124⇗ | 3 June 1944 | Target: Coastal Artillery Battery Type: Military Location: Le Touquet, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 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 | High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 129⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Highway Choke Point in City of Caen Type: Transportation Location: Caen, 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 | 41D Group, Low Squadron Lead. Bombed Primary Target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 132⇗ | 10 June 1944 | Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 133⇗ | 12 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France | Completed Mission | High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 | Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France | Completed Mission | Low Group, High Squadron Lead. Landed away at RAF Stansted, Essex, on return, due to bad weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 | Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France | Completed Mission | 41B Wing, Lead Group. 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 | 41B Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 139⇗ | 19 June 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France | Completed Mission | 41A Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 141⇗ | 20 June 1944 | Target: Oil Refineries Type: Oil Industry Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑97178. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 142⇗ | 21 June 1944 | Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Composite High Group Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 143⇗ | 22 June 1944 | Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Wizernes, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 145⇗ | 24 June 1944 | Target: German Vacuum Oil Company Type: Oil Industry Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑37974. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 146⇗ | 25 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment Type: Transportation Location: Sens, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back, reasons unknown. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 149⇗ | 30 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Montdidier, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 150⇗ | 4 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead, high group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 151⇗ | 6 July 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Coubronne, France | Completed Mission | High section lead, low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 153⇗ | 7 July 1944 | Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany | Completed Mission, Some Crew Bailed Out | High group, 41st A wing. Tailgunner bailed out during violent prop wash, apparently believing the aircraft was in trouble. 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 | Failed To Return | Low group. At 1325, immediately after bombs away, 4 parachutes appeared from plane which exploded a few thousand feet below the formation; flak damage, crashed in the area of Munich, Germany. MACR 7568 Sortie Report ⇗ |