Mission # 77

MISSION SUMMARY

Mission Date 19 March 1944
Eighth Air Force Operations Operations description not yet available.
Mission
384th BG Mission Number 77, Eighth AF Force Mission Number 266
Traffic Conflict & Equipment Failure
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Previous Mission
The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the low group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Weather at the target was clear. On the first bomb run, the high group took position immediately above the 384th, so Major Harris led the Group on a 360-degree turn to avoid their bombs. On the second bomb run, the lead aircraft's AFCES (autopilot) went out and the run was completed with the pilot flying manually following PDI guidance: bombing accuracy was poor.
Primary Target Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Target Attacked (Mode) Primary (Visual)
Sortie/Aircraft Summary Completed Mission, not including spares - 19
Flying Spare, Completed Mission - 1
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed - 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⇗

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
42‑29723⇗Jorgenson, Henry (NMI)⇗Flying Spare, Returned As BriefedFLIGHT TIME 2:50
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29809⇗Fioretti, Edward Anthony⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑29828⇗Heffley, Farris Ormond⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31166⇗Pryor, Raymond Thomas⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31211⇗MacPhail, Philip Ray⇗Completed MissionGroup deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31346⇗Robinson, Robert Lawrence⇗Completed MissionHogh Squadron lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31375⇗Rich, John (NMI)⇗Spare, Completed MissionFlying spare; joined formation, but did not drop bombs because there was an aircraft below him.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31435⇗Baylor, Robert Bledsoe⇗Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31495⇗Herbert, Joseph Robert⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑31926⇗Lovell, James MacNaughton⇗Failed To ReturnAircraft hit by flak immediately after bombs away; later observed spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft; four chutes emerged, with one on fire; crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, a very small village, near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France. MACR 3242
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37776⇗Horton, Lloyd (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37789⇗Goller, Theodore (NMI)⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑37982⇗Clayton, John Earl⇗Completed MissionForced out of formation after first bomb run due to loss of #4 engine; did not bomb.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38014⇗Wilson, William Monroe⇗Completed MissionGroup lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38112⇗Hines, James Wesley⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑38158⇗Poole, George Irvin⇗Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97081⇗Corcoran, John Joseph⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97136⇗Knapp, Paul Bernard⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97139⇗Decker, Charles Edgar⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97142⇗Barad, Robert Leo⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97150⇗Yokie, John Olivi⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97477⇗Thompson, Siguard (NMI)⇗Completed MissionLow Squadron lead.
SORTIE REPORT ⇗
42‑97510⇗Smith, Charles Grover⇗Completed Mission SORTIE REPORT ⇗