Mission # 73

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 8 March 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 73, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 252
384th Leads Wing To Berlin
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Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) led the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. The target was not obscured by clouds, although there was heavy smoke from previous bomb strikes. Bombing results were believed to be good.
Primary Target Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 17
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 2
Returned Early - 1
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 1
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 3
Aborted - 2
Mission Personnel Mission Personnel Roster⇗ or Mission Loading Lists⇗
Mission Documents Combat Mission Records and Plans obtained from the National Archives⇗
Other Mission Documents March 8 1944 Lead Crew Photo⇗
1944-03-08, Wing Lead, D. Smith, C. Stearns⇗

26 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
42‑3440⇗Laboda, Joseph Stanley⇗Completed MissionThis aircraft dropped 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) in addition to demolition bombs.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3490⇗[482nd BG Pilot]Completed MissionPFF aircraft and unidentified crewmembers supplied by 482nd BG.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31048⇗Fioretti, Edward Anthony⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31166⇗Yelvington, Melton Albert⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31222⇗Bishop, Charles W⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back at 1042 hrs because #1 engine was running roughly and vibrated excessively.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31346⇗[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑31364⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, UnusedGround Spare Aircraft.
42‑31375⇗Corcoran, John Joseph⇗Completed MissionAfter initial (unspecified) engine trouble, took off late, caught up with formation, and flew mission.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31433⇗Stearns, Clarence Grover⇗Completed MissionWing lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31484⇗Langlois, Robert Ezra⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31740⇗Decker, Charles Edgar⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31871⇗Bennett, Phillip Nathan⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31926⇗Lovell, James MacNaughton⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37776⇗Horton, Lloyd (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37781⇗Reed, Merlin Howard⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37785⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, UnusedGround Spare Aircraft.
42‑37788⇗Smith, Roger Clement⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37789⇗Heffley, Farris Ormond⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37801⇗Urton, Raymond Lee⇗Completed MissionWing deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37848⇗MacPhail, Philip Ray⇗Aborted Mission After Taking Off.High Squadron deputy. Turned back at 1000 hrs because a gasket in #1 prop dome was put in incorrectly and leaked oil. Landed away at Molesworth.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37982⇗Pryor, Raymond Thomas⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying spare; joined formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38014⇗Wilson, William Monroe⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38112⇗Hines, James Wesley⇗Returned EarlyTurned back when oxygen system had been shot out by flak; dropped bombs and 25 parcels of 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) on TOO near Lingen, Germany, with 'poor' results.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38158⇗Outen, Charles Levi⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97449⇗Smith, Harry Bailey⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97477⇗Edwards, Floyd Clinton⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗