Mission # 44

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 20 December 1943
VIII Bomber Command Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 44, VIII BC Mission Number 159
Bremen Attacked Visually
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Although a smoke screen was generated to hide the city, there was sufficient visibility to drop the bombs using visual aiming with the Norden Bombsight. As a result, 'the bombs landed in the built up areas away from the river.' (PRO Log)
Primary Target Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 19
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Ditched - 1
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 1
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗

23 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
41‑24525⇗Smith, Roger Clement⇗Completed MissionLanded away at Attlebridge due to low fuel.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
41‑24560⇗Knapp, Paul Bernard⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3429⇗Sprague, Alfred Lee⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead; landed away at Attlebridge due to low fuel, with '#3 engine out.'
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3441⇗McDonald, Raymond Leroy⇗Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5444. Took off late, probably due to transferring from original aircraft. Unable to locate the 384th formation, joined the 379th BG and bombed Bremen with them.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑5838⇗Willing, Mark Skinner⇗Completed MissionCapt. Frink lead Squadron leader.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29703⇗Robinson, Robert Lawrence⇗Completed MissionTwo bombs failed to release due to malfunction, so they were jettisoned in the Channel.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29723⇗Stier, George Withers⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29828⇗Fioretti, Edward Anthony⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying Spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29927⇗Carter, T L (IO)⇗Completed MissionGroup deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29935⇗Carnes, James Frederick⇗Failed To Return: DitchedThis crew's first mission; left formation shortly after attacking target; ran out of fuel and ditched in the North Sea off the Dutch Coast (Frisian Islands); they were rescued and brought to the German Frisian Island of Juist, where the radio operator who had been KIA was buried; MACR 1725.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31045⇗Taylor, Sidney Paul⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31073⇗Kew, William Joseph⇗Completed MissionTwo bombs failed to release over target and were jettisoned in the Channel.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31211⇗MacPhail, Philip Ray⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31274⇗Carpenter, Walter Richard⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37758⇗Jones, William Arch⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37776⇗Courtemanche, Ralph Eudor⇗Completed MissionLanded away at Attlebridge due to low fuel.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37781⇗Wilson, William Monroe⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37801⇗Martin, Rudolph Alfred⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37816⇗Poole, George Irvin⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying spare; joined formation and completed mission, but did not bomb primary target; jettisoned bombs in North Sea.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37848⇗Ulrey, Edgar Ellsworth⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron lead; dropped bombs 'a short time after the target, ... regarded as ... jettisoned.'
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37885⇗Lotz, William Henry⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑39784⇗Covington, Royston Truitt⇗Completed MissionBrought one bomb back due to bomb release malfunction.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑39888⇗West, George Berry⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗