Mission # 12

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 29 July 1943
VIII Bomber Command Operations Show Operations
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 12, VIII BC Mission Number 79
Weather Stymies Bombers
Next Mission
Previous Mission
Solid clouds at German coast prevented formations from continuing mission. Captain Ketelson led Group in an attack on a target of opportunity (TOO), an airfield on a German coastal island, near Heligoland. Due to the shortness of the bomb run, the Bombardier reported all bombs fell into the North Sea. About fifty enemy fighters and moderate flak were encountered after turning back. Wing formation was described as 'straggling', leaving formations vulnerable to attack.
Primary Target Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) TOO (Visual)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: [unidentified island], Germany
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 13
Scrubbed - 3
Aborted - 3
Did Not Take Off - 2
Failed To Return - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗
Other Mission Documents 1943-07-29,Wing Lead, R. Ketelsen, R. Carrington⇗

22 AIRCRAFT ASSIGNED TO THIS MISSION
Table is sorted by Pilot, and may be sorted by any column: click the column head.
Aircraft Pilot Results Mission/Sortie Information
42‑3074⇗Swank, Robert Dale⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back over North Sea because #3 exhaust manifold blew and pressure went down to 15 inches, making it impossible to keep up with formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3104⇗Sierens, Ernest Joseph⇗Completed MissionThis aircraft was assigned to the Goulder Crew, but was taken by the Sierens Crew to replace 42‑5849.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3216⇗Carrington, Richard Thompson⇗Completed MissionWing lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3230⇗Mattes, Frank George⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3259⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑5843.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5051⇗Harry, William Russell⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back almost immediately because of leak in oxygen system.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5843⇗Kelly, James Henry⇗Completed MissionGround spare airceaft; replaced 42‑3259. Low Squadron lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5848⇗Ogilvie, Donald Potter⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5849⇗[N/A]Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑3104.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5889⇗Sprague, Alfred Lee⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29686⇗Willing, Mark Skinner⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29699⇗Frink, Horace Everett⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29700⇗Roberts, James Richard⇗Failed To ReturnShot down by enemy aircraft after attacking target of opportunity (TOO) with the group. No MACR.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29703⇗Algar, Philip Morris⇗Did Not Take OffDid not take off: aircraft apparently not in flying condition.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29927⇗Higdon, Philip Earl⇗Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffDid not take off: aircraft apparently not in flying condition.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29956⇗Hausenfluck, Jesse Dee⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29985⇗Lecates, Robert Leslie⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back near enemy coast when #1 and #2 engines lost power and could not stay with formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑30030⇗Bishop, Charles W⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑30039⇗Armstrong, James Edwin⇗Did Not Take OffDid not take off: aircraft apparently not in flying condition.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑30043⇗Goulder, Edmund Samuel⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3104 which was flown by the Sierens Crew.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑30046⇗Wilson, Clayton Russell⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead, wing deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑30065⇗Keck, George Blackburn⇗Completed MissionLead Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗