SORTIE REPORT #2157
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 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.'
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑37793 ⇗ 547th SO*X SPIRIT OF WINSOME WINN II
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Smith, Roger Clement⇗ 547 Interned
Co-pilot McKinney, Jack Norman⇗ 547 Interned
Navigator Harvey, Harry Blakely, Jr⇗ 547 Interned
Togglier Dudla, John Richard⇗ 547 Interned
Radio Operator Kendall, Earl Frank⇗ 547 Interned
Engineer/Top Turret Kaminski, Bruno (NMI)⇗ 547 Interned
Ball Turret Danko, Charles Gabriel⇗ 547 Interned
Tail Gunner Green, Jesse Britten⇗ 547 Interned
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Boney, Chester Joseph⇗ 547 Interned
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Hamilton, Gerald Thorwald⇗ 547 Interned
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
MACRMissing Air Crew Report # 3484⇗
Sortie Report 2157 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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