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: | 43-38016 |
| Name: | LORRAINE |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-75-BO, Natural Metal Finish |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*R |
| Start Date: | 23 July 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 67 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 7 November 1945. Istres: Moved with the Group to Istres/Le Tube, France. |
| Related Documents: | Accident Report # 44-09-11-515⇓ (0.953 MB) Accident Report # 44-12-02-525⇓ (1.347 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 43-38016 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 43-38016 Del Cheyenne 16/6/44; Kearney 27/6/44; Grenier 9/7/44; Ass 544BS/384BG [SU-R] Grafton Underwood 23/7/44; f/l Ridgewell 2/12/44 w/Bob Fisher; trans with group to Istres for mapping duties, Sal 9AF Germany 6/11/45. LORRAINE. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 168⇗ | 31 July 1944 | Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Lead Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 169⇗ | 1 August 1944 | Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France | Completed Mission | High Group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 170⇗ | 3 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France | Completed Mission | J Group Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 172⇗ | 4 August 1944 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Crepieul, France | Completed Mission | Low section lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 177⇗ | 11 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France | Flight Completed | Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 181⇗ | 16 August 1944 | Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Delitzsch, Germany | Completed Mission | High group deputy and hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 182⇗ | 18 August 1944 | Target: Tactical: Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Vise, Belgium | Completed Mission | Wing deputy and hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 184⇗ | 25 August 1944 | Target: Airfield & Airpark Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Anklam, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group deputy and hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 185⇗ | 26 August 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | High group deputy and hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 191⇗ | 10 September 1944 | Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant Type: Industry Location: Sindelfingen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 43‑37713. High Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 11 September 1944 | Training (Non-Combat) | Returned To Base | While taxiing on the perimeter track following a training flight, the left wing was slightly damaged when it hit a truck. No crew injuries were reported. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 194⇗ | 13 September 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | High group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | C Wing, lead group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 199⇗ | 26 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Osnabrück, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 200⇗ | 27 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points) Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | High group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 201⇗ | 28 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Magdeburg, Germany | Completed Mission | High group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 203⇗ | 2 October 1944 | Target: Ford Motor Works Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Gee-H ship. Loaned to the 303rd BG for today's mission. Manned by 303rd personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 204⇗ | 3 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 303rd BG for today's mission. Manned by 303rd personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 205⇗ | 5 October 1944 | Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Group lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 208⇗ | 9 October 1944 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 209⇗ | 11 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Completed Mission | Third Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 210⇗ | 14 October 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Saarbrücken, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron deputy. Gee-H and hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 211⇗ | 15 October 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 212⇗ | 17 October 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Flight Completed | Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 213⇗ | 18 October 1944 | Target: Ford Motor Works Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead. Relinquished lead to deputy on bomb run after Gee-H equipment failed. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 214⇗ | 19 October 1944 | Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory Type: Industry Location: Mannheim, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 215⇗ | 25 October 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Fourth Squadron deputy. Gee-H equipment failed during assembly. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 217⇗ | 1 November 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 218⇗ | 2 November 1944 | Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Gee-H equipment failed before IP. Attempted to follow low Squadron, but they turned off the bomb run. Then tried to catch lead Squadron, but were unable. Then led Squadron to a visual attack on the briefed last resort target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 224⇗ | 10 November 1944 | Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | 41C Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Gee-H ship. Turned back over France due to material failure; jettisoned bombs in open field in France. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 227⇗ | 20 November 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Returned Early | Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing C group. The mission commander's narrative states: 'A/C 8016 (Pilot Gilbert) returned early due to engine failure. Bombs were jettisoned.' According to Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Five minutes before target, had a runaway prop and finally feathered it due to vibration. At 29,000 ft. we could not climb and lost our formation. Came back alone.' Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 228⇗ | 23 November 1944 | Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G. Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy, A group; Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 229⇗ | 25 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf, Germany | Completed Mission | Gee-H ship; landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 232⇗ | 29 November 1944 | Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Misburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 44‑8216. took off with Gilbert Crew, but lost #2 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 2 December 1944 | Ferrying (Non-Combat) | Crashed In Allied Territory | At the completion of a ferry flight, ran off end of runway while landing at AAF Station 167, Ridgewell, Essex, after dark. Aircraft damaged, but no personnel were injured. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 234⇗ | 2 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 236⇗ | 6 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Flight Completed | Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 237⇗ | 9 December 1944 | Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 240⇗ | 18 December 1944 | Target: Road Junction Type: Transportation Location: Gemünd, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 92nd BG for today's mission. Manned by 92nd personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 241⇗ | 19 December 1944 | Target: Railway Junction Type: Transportation Location: Glaadt, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 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 | Lead Gee-H Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑97824. Low Squadron deputy. Assumed Squadron lead after leader aborted. Led Gee-H bomb run with visual assist on primary target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 245⇗ | 28 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Brühl, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| --⇗ | 29 December 1944 | Bingen, Germany | Completed Mission | This aircraft was loaned to the 306th Bomb Group along with a Gee-H Navigator for this mission: the 384th stood down on this date. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 246⇗ | 30 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Limburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Loaned to the 91st BG for today's mission. Manned by 91st personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 247⇗ | 31 December 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Neuss, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Led high Squadron on a normal Gee-H bombing run. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 248⇗ | 1 January 1945 | Target: Oil Storage Depot Type: Oil Industry Location: Derben, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 249⇗ | 2 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gerolstein, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 251⇗ | 5 January 1945 | Target: Landing Ground Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany | Completed Mission | Gee-H ship. Loaned to the 401st BG with 384th Gee-H navigator; remainder of unidentified crew provided by the 401st. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 252⇗ | 7 January 1945 | Target: Enemy Strong Point Type: Military Location: Blankenheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Group deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 253⇗ | 8 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Type: Transportation Location: Kyllburg, Germany | Completed Mission | PFF & Gee-H ship. Loaned to the 92nd BG with Gee-H navigator; remaining unidentified crew provided by 92nd BG. Bombed 92nd assigned primary target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 254⇗ | 10 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bonn, Germany | Completed Mission | Gee-H ship. Loaned to 92nd BG with Gee-H navigator; unidentified crewmembers provided by the 92nd BG. Attacked assigned 92nd BG primary target. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 256⇗ | 17 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: Bielefeld, Germany | Flight Completed | Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (N, RO, Eng) not identified Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 257⇗ | 20 January 1945 | Target: Rail and Road Bridges Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron deputy; Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Oakington, Cambridgeshire. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 259⇗ | 22 January 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 457th BG for today's mission. Manned by 457th personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 263⇗ | 1 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead; Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 264⇗ | 3 February 1945 | Target: Tempelhof Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 267⇗ | 15 February 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bohlen, Germany | Did Not Take Off | Did not take off because bad weather halted flight operations. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 17 February 1945 | Mannheim, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | LSq Deputy Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 269⇗ | 20 February 1945 | Target: Main Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 270⇗ | 21 February 1945 | Target: Tank Factory Type: Industry Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 273⇗ | 24 February 1945 | Target: Submarine Construction Shipyard Type: Shipyards Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 274⇗ | 25 February 1945 | Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory Type: Industry Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 275⇗ | 26 February 1945 | Target: Schlesicher Railroad Station (Bahnhof) Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 277⇗ | 28 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hagen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead; Gee-H ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 278⇗ | 1 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bruchsal, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 279⇗ | 2 March 1945 | Target: Low Temperature Carbonization Plant and Refinery of Deutsche Petroleum A.G. Type: Oil Industry Location: Rositz, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 280⇗ | 3 March 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Misburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 281⇗ | 4 March 1945 | Target: Ordnance Depot Type: Military Location: Ulm, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 305th BG for today's mission. Manned by 305th BG personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 283⇗ | 8 March 1945 | Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant' Type: Oil Industry Location: Essen, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 92nd BG for today's mission. Manned by 92nd BG personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 284⇗ | 9 March 1945 | Target: Henschel Tank and Locomotive Works Type: Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 351st BG for today's mission. Manned by 351st BG personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 285⇗ | 10 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Schwerte, Germany | Completed Mission | Gee-H ship. Loaned to the 351st BG for today's mission. Manned by 351st BG personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. 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 | Flight Completed | Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified in mission documents. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 292⇗ | 19 March 1945 | Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bohlen, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare aircraft. Replaced 44‑6898, which was taken by Group Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 294⇗ | 22 March 1945 | Target: German Hutted Camps (Barracks) at 51°36'N,7°06'E Type: Military Location: Westerholt, Germany | Completed Mission | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 44‑8679. Gee-H ship; loaned to the 306th BG without crew. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 295⇗ | 23 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gladbeck, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 296⇗ | 24 March 1945 | Target: Vechta Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Vechta, Germany | Completed Mission | Loaned to the 305th BG for today's mission. Manned by 305th BG personnel, except as noted on the Sortie Report. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 25 March 1945 | Lutzkendorf, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Fred P. Gray Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 300⇗ | 30 March 1945 | Target: Deutsche Schiff- u. Maschinenbau A.G. (DESCHIMAG)
Submarine and Warship Yard Machine Shop Type: Submarine Facility Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron hot camera ship. Landed away at Eye, on return, due to unspecified engine trouble. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 304⇗ | 5 April 1945 | Target: Ordnance Depot Type: Military Location: Ingolstadt, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back after #4 prop sheared off. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 308⇗ | 10 April 1945 | Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area Type: Military Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 309⇗ | 11 April 1945 | Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot Type: Oil Industry Location: Freiham, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 314⇗ | 19 April 1945 | Target: Railroad Station & Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Elsterwerda, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 315⇗ | 20 April 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Seddin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |