Mission # 76

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 18 March 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 76, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 264
Two Targets Attacked
Next Mission
Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) provided two formations for today's mission. A group size formation led the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing, while a squadron size formation led the high composite group of the same wing. All targets were attacked by visual means.
Five aircraft of High Composite Group, led by Capt J M Merritt, bombed an airfield in the vicinity of Memmingen, Germany as a Last Resort Target: they were unable to drop on the primary target because another formation was below them.
Primary Target Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 23
Returned Early - 1
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 3
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused - 3
Failed To Return - 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 1944-03-18, 41st Combat Bomb Wing Lead, W. Buck, L. Armstrong⇗

32 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⇗Baylor, Robert Bledsoe⇗Completed MissionLead Squadron, high composite group.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑3441⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑30026⇗[N/A]Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑31166⇗Yelvington, Melton Albert⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31211⇗Decker, Charles Edgar⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron lead, lead group, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31222⇗Miller, James Gilmore⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31235⇗Allison, Earl Thomas⇗Completed MissionHigh group lead, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31346⇗Robinson, Robert Lawrence⇗Completed MissionHigh group deputy, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31375⇗Courtemanche, Ralph Eudor⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31495⇗Morrison, Donald Sylvester⇗Completed MissionLead Squadron, high composite group.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31740⇗Heffley, Farris Ormond⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31871⇗LaSeur, William Veryle⇗Failed To ReturnAt 1445 hrs called Group Leader saying he had two engines out and would try for home; had escort of four friendly fighters; force-landed at Dubendorf, Switzerland; MACR 3485. From 303rd BG: 'Secret equipment destroyed. Landed wheels down at Dubendorf. Wheels retracted after landing, but aircraft could not be burned because of Swiss interference. Target was bombed. Could not feather #1 engine out on bomb run. Half power obtained from engines Nos. 2 and 3 which were running rough.'
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37758⇗Barad, Robert Leo⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37776⇗Horton, Lloyd (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37785⇗Herbert, Joseph Robert⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37789⇗Goller, Theodore (NMI)⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37793⇗Smith, Roger Clement⇗Failed To ReturnAt 1440 hrs he turned from formation; at 1455 he called Group Leader that two engines were out and he was heading for Switzerland, escorted by P-38s through a mountain pass to the south; damage caused by flak; crash-landed at Altstetten, Switzerland. MACR 3484
From 303rd BG: '#1 engine would not feather, vibrated badly and ran away over target. Supercharger on #2 inoperative 30 minutes before initial point, was rough and lost oil. Supercharger on #3 did not function properly. Aircraft landed at Dubendorf [sic] wheels up. Destruction completed of secret equipment. Target was bombed.'
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37982⇗Clayton, John Earl⇗Completed MissionLead Squadron, high composite group.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38013⇗Kravet, Marvin Robert⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38112⇗Fioretti, Edward Anthony⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38158⇗Lavin, James Robert⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy, lead group, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38208⇗Bennett, Phillip Nathan⇗Completed MissionDropped ten parcels of 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) in addition to bombs.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑39888⇗Yokie, John Olivi⇗Returned EarlyLead Squadron, high composite group. Turned back at 1246 hrs, deep in enemy territory, because #3 supercharger went out and aircraft could not maintain position in the formation.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97081⇗Pryor, Raymond Thomas⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97124⇗Hines, James Wesley⇗Completed MissionLead Squadron.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97139⇗Rich, John (NMI)⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy, lead group, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97142⇗MacPhail, Philip Ray⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97150⇗Smith, Harry Bailey⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron lead, lead group, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97449⇗Daskey, Kendall (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97477⇗Armstrong, Lloyd Rowland⇗Completed Mission41st Combat Bombardment Wing Lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97510⇗[N/A]Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
42‑97523⇗[482nd BG Pilot]Completed Mission41st Combat Bombardment Wing deputy. PFF ship and unidentified crewmembers loaned by 482nd BG.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗