SORTIE REPORT #2141
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑03‑18 76 264 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Two Targets Attacked: 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.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Failed To Return
Comments: At 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.'
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑31871 ⇗ 547th SO*T not known
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot LaSeur, William Veryle⇗ 547 Interned
Co-pilot Lessig, Joseph Watson⇗ 547 Interned
Navigator Howell, William Wright⇗ 547 Interned
Bombardier Loh, Phillip Henry, III⇗ 547 Interned
Radio Operator Hay, James Franklin⇗ 547 Interned
Engineer/Top Turret O'Brien, John Gerald⇗ 547 Interned
Ball Turret Gormley, Edward Oliver⇗ 547 Interned
Tail Gunner Gardner, Eugene Frederick⇗ 547 Interned
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Harper, Richard Wight⇗ 547 Interned
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Froment, Dorrance Verl⇗ 547 Interned
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
MACRMissing Air Crew Report # 3485⇗
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