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: | 43-38501 |
| Name: | SWEET CHARIOT |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-90-BO, Natural Metal Finish |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 546th‑BK*C |
| Ground Crew Chief: | Konzem, Hubert Philip |
| Start Date: | 23 September 1944. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 80 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 25 April 1945. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Comments: | Last Group aircraft lost in combat. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 14317⇓ (1.093 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 43-38501 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 43-38501 Del Cheyenne 10/8/44; Kearney 21/8/44; Grenier 7/9/44; Ass 546BS/384BG [BK-C] Grafton Underwood 23/9/44; MIA Pilsen, Czecho. 25/4/45 w/Andy Lovett, Stan Kloss, Milton Haney (3EVD); Don Unger, Conrad Brown, Lou Froelinger, Bob Blas, Walt Carney (5POW); flak, cr Pilsen; MACR 14317. SWEET CHARIOT. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | C Wing, low group, flying spare. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 199⇗ | 26 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Osnabrück, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 200⇗ | 27 September 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points) Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 201⇗ | 28 September 1944 | Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Magdeburg, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Lead group flying spare. Filled in for Rice in the high group. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 202⇗ | 30 September 1944 | Target: Handorf Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Münster, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | High group flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 203⇗ | 2 October 1944 | Target: Ford Motor Works Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 204⇗ | 3 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany | Completed Mission | Released bombs late on target of opportunity. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 205⇗ | 5 October 1944 | Type: Industry Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 215⇗ | 25 October 1944 | Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 216⇗ | 30 October 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 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 | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 219⇗ | 4 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 220⇗ | 5 November 1944 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 221⇗ | 6 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 222⇗ | 8 November 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point) Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Lead Squadron Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 223⇗ | 9 November 1944 | Target: Ground Installations Type: Military Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 224⇗ | 10 November 1944 | Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | 41C Group, Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 225⇗ | 11 November 1944 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 226⇗ | 16 November 1944 | Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions Type: Military Location: Eschweiler, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑38013. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 227⇗ | 20 November 1944 | Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 | Hot camera ship. 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 | Hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 238⇗ | 11 December 1944 | Target: Road & Rail Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron, B Group, hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 239⇗ | 12 December 1944 | Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 240⇗ | 18 December 1944 | Target: Road Junction Type: Transportation Location: Gemünd, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 | Lead Squadron. 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 | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. 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 | 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 | High Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 251⇗ | 5 January 1945 | Target: Landing Ground Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 253⇗ | 8 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Type: Transportation Location: Kyllburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 254⇗ | 10 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Bonn, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 255⇗ | 15 January 1945 | Target: Neuburg Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Neuburg an der Donau, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 256⇗ | 17 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: Bielefeld, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 259⇗ | 22 January 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 260⇗ | 23 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Neuss, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Ridgewell Airfield, AAF Station 167. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 261⇗ | 28 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 262⇗ | 29 January 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Siegen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 263⇗ | 1 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 264⇗ | 3 February 1945 | Target: Tempelhof Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Spare, Completed Mission | High Squadron, Flying Spare; joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 7 February 1945 | Essen/Bottrop, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 265⇗ | 9 February 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 266⇗ | 14 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Dresden, Germany | Completed Mission | Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102495, which had replaced 43‑38801. Took off late as a result of multiple aircraft swaps, but caught the formation and completed the mission. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 267⇗ | 15 February 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Bohlen, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Bassingbourn AIrfield, AAF Station 121. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 268⇗ | 19 February 1945 | Target: Coking Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 ⇗ |
| 271⇗ | 22 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Ülzen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 272⇗ | 23 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Plauen, Germany | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 274⇗ | 25 February 1945 | Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory Type: Industry Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 275⇗ | 26 February 1945 | Target: Schlesicher Railroad Station (Bahnhof) Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 276⇗ | 27 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Wahren (Leipzig area), Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 277⇗ | 28 February 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hagen, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Landed shortly after takeoff to correct a loose gas cap; took off again and joined formation. 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 | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 282⇗ | 7 March 1945 | Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Bochum, Germany | Completed Mission | Lead Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 283⇗ | 8 March 1945 | Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant' Type: Oil Industry Location: Essen, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 284⇗ | 9 March 1945 | Target: Henschel Tank and Locomotive Works Type: Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 285⇗ | 10 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Schwerte, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Landed and scrubbed after taking off with group; replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑37822. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 288⇗ | 14 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River Type: Transportation Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 289⇗ | 15 March 1945 | Target: Army HQ Type: Military Location: Zossen, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. 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 | Completed Mission | 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 | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 295⇗ | 23 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gladbeck, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 296⇗ | 24 March 1945 | Target: Vechta Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Vechta, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 25 March 1945 | Lutzkendorf, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 298⇗ | 26 March 1945 | Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Zeitz, Germany | Completed Mission | Low Squadron. Landed away at RAF Manston on return due to low fuel. Returned to base later in the evening. 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 | Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 301⇗ | 31 March 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Lützkendorf, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 44‑6909. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 302⇗ | 3 April 1945 | Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot Type: Oil Industry Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 303⇗ | 4 April 1945 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Fassberg, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 304⇗ | 5 April 1945 | Target: Ordnance Depot Type: Military Location: Ingolstadt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 306⇗ | 7 April 1945 | Target: Underground Oil Storage Plant Type: Military Location: Hitzacker, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 307⇗ | 9 April 1945 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 308⇗ | 10 April 1945 | Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area Type: Military Location: Oranienburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 310⇗ | 14 April 1945 | Target: Gun Battery Type: Military Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑38548. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 311⇗ | 15 April 1945 | Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac Type: Military Location: Royan, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 312⇗ | 16 April 1945 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Regensburg, Germany | Completed Mission | 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 ⇗ |
| -- | 23 April 1945 | Training (Non-Combat) | Flight Completed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 316⇗ | 25 April 1945 | Target: Skoda Armament Works Type: Industry Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia | Failed To Return | Three engines knocked out by flak ten minutes away from allied territory; crashed near German-Czech border. MACR 14317 Sortie Report ⇗ |