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: | 42-97320 |
| Name: | HOT ROCK |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-45-BO, Natural Metal Finish |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*G |
| Start Date: | 7 April 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 78 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 10 January 1945. Salvaged: Force-landed in Belgium returning from combat mission. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-97320 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-97320 Del Cheyenne 18/2/44; Gr Island 6/3/44; Grenier 20/3/44; Ass 544BS/384BG [SU-G] Grafton Underwood 7/4/44; FTR w/J. S. Hoppen, e/a, f/l Belgium 10/1/45; Sal. |
| Bits & Pieces: |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88⇗ | 11 April 1944 | Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Sorau, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 12 April 1944 | Schweinfurt, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 90⇗ | 18 April 1944 | Target: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 91⇗ | 19 April 1944 | Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑32106. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 92⇗ | 20 April 1944 | Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France | Completed Mission | A Wing, High Group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97273. Took off late (1622 vs 1525 hrs) but caught formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 21 April 1944 | Leuna, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 93⇗ | 22 April 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Manston, Kent, on return due to battle damage. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 117⇗ | 28 May 1944 | Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, 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 | Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 | Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 121⇗ | 31 May 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Colmar, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back at 0951 hrs because #1 and #3 engine oil temperatures read 90-100 degrees and #3 oil pressure was 45 lbs at altitude. 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 ⇗ |
| 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 | Lead Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 128⇗ | 6 June 1944 | Target: Two Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Caen, France | Completed Mission | I Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 | Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France | Completed Mission | Low Group, High Squadron Lead. 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, High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Loading list states 'No Ball Turret.' Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 132⇗ | 10 June 1944 | Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France | Completed Mission | 41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 133⇗ | 12 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 | Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 136⇗ | 15 June 1944 | Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: La Possonnièrre, France | Completed Mission | High Group, High Squadron Lead. 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. 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 ⇗ |
| 148⇗ | 28 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy, high group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 149⇗ | 30 June 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Montdidier, France | Spare, Completed Mission | Low group flying spare; joined formation. 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 | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 152⇗ | 6 July 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Blanc Pignon Ferme, Cléty, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back with a feathered prop. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 155⇗ | 11 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back with a sick crew member. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 156⇗ | 12 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Lead group. Turned back due to #3 prop becoming uncontrollable. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 157⇗ | 13 July 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | 41A Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 158⇗ | 16 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 160⇗ | 18 July 1944 | Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany | Completed Mission | 41A Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 161⇗ | 19 July 1944 | Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 162⇗ | 20 July 1944 | Target: Aircraft Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 163⇗ | 21 July 1944 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany | Completed Mission | High section lead, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 164⇗ | 24 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France | Completed Mission | Lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 165⇗ | 25 July 1944 | Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel, & La Chapelle en Juger, France | Completed Mission | High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 166⇗ | 28 July 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | High section lead, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 169⇗ | 1 August 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France | Completed Mission | High Group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑6141. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 170⇗ | 3 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 171⇗ | 4 August 1944 | Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Low Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 173⇗ | 5 August 1944 | Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Langenhagen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 176⇗ | 9 August 1944 | Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Erding, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 177⇗ | 11 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France | Completed Mission | High section deputy, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 178⇗ | 12 August 1944 | Target: "Landing Ground" Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: La Perthe, France | Completed Mission | Lead group hot camera ship. 'Landed at coast for fuel' and arrived at base two hours late. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 179⇗ | 13 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Road Network Type: Transportation Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France | Completed Mission | High group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 180⇗ | 14 August 1944 | Target: Echterdingen Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Low group. Turned back with a broken exhaust stack in #3 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 181⇗ | 16 August 1944 | Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Delitzsch, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 182⇗ | 18 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Vise, Belgium | Completed Mission | Lead group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 183⇗ | 24 August 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | High group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 1 September 1944 | Ludwigshaven, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 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 | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Low group 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 | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 195⇗ | 17 September 1944 | Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical Type: Military Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands | Completed Mission | B Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 196⇗ | 19 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | C Wing, lead group. Aborted over base during assembly due to personnel illness. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 201⇗ | 28 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Magdeburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 202⇗ | 30 September 1944 | Target: Handorf Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Münster, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead group hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 203⇗ | 2 October 1944 | Target: Ford Motor Works Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back with a runaway prop on #2 engine. Sortie credit. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 204⇗ | 3 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 205⇗ | 5 October 1944 | Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back, reason unknown. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 208⇗ | 9 October 1944 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 209⇗ | 11 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Completed Mission | Third Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 212⇗ | 17 October 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 214⇗ | 19 October 1944 | Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory Type: Industry Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 215⇗ | 25 October 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Fourth Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 217⇗ | 1 November 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 218⇗ | 2 November 1944 | Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | High Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 219⇗ | 4 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 222⇗ | 8 November 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point) Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 226⇗ | 16 November 1944 | Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions Type: Military Location: Eschweiler, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Stratford, due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 228⇗ | 23 November 1944 | Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G. Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 229⇗ | 25 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf, Germany | Completed Mission | Hot camera ship; landed away at White Waltham, 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 | Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 233⇗ | 30 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Zeitz, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Low Squadron Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 234⇗ | 2 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 235⇗ | 4 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Soest, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 236⇗ | 6 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 237⇗ | 9 December 1944 | Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 240⇗ | 18 December 1944 | Target: Road Junction Type: Transportation Location: Gemünd, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | High Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 241⇗ | 19 December 1944 | Target: Railway Junction Type: Transportation Location: Glaadt, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑107148. 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 | Spare, Completed Mission | Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 245⇗ | 28 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Brühl, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 246⇗ | 30 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Limburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37703. Milligan aborted 703 after takeoff, returned and moved his crew to this Spare Aircraft. Once he was again airborne, it was too late to catch up to the Group, and he returned to base. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 247⇗ | 31 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Neuss, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 248⇗ | 1 January 1945 | Target: Oil Storage Depot Type: Oil Industry Location: Derben, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 250⇗ | 3 January 1945 | Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: St Vith, Belgium | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 251⇗ | 5 January 1945 | Target: Landing Ground Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Did not take off. 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 | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑38752. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 254⇗ | 10 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bonn, Germany | Landed In Allied Territory | Left formation after first bomb run; did not attack; damaged by flak; force-landed in Belgium; aircraft salvaged. Sortie Report ⇗ |