SORTIE REPORT #2197
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑03‑20 78 269 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Weather Forces Recall: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the low group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Repeated conflicts with neighboring wing formations led at 1114 hrs to a loss of visual contact with assigned wing leader, who by that time was at about 5,000 feet higher altitude. Ten minutes later a recall order was received - the formation at that time was in the vicinity of Prüm, Germany - and the Group returned to base without dropping its bombs.
From the PRO LOG: 'Impossible atmospherical conditions compelled our planes to turn back over France [sic] without dropping their bombs. Clouds extended up to 25,000 feet when the bombers abandoned their [attack].'
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
No Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed N/A
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑97136 ⇗ 544th SU*J not known
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Knapp, Paul Bernard⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Co-pilot Pulliam, Lyle James⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Navigator Colarusso, Alfred James⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Bombardier Austin, Raymond Lee, Jr⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Radio Operator Bier, Irvin Louis⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Engineer/Top Turret Jakway, James Allen⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Ball Turret Mason, Covert Nathan⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Tail Gunner Cleland, Deston Kenneth⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Waist (Flexible) Gunner LaSalle, Angelo Aloysius⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Cates, Clay Franklin⇗ 544 Spare, Returned
Sortie Report 2197 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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Report generated: 12 October 2026, 12:21 AM (PDT)
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