SORTIE REPORT #2568
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑04‑13 89 301 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Primary Attacked, Huge Losses: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high group of the 41st Combat Wing on today's mission. Vicious fighter attacks knocked down nine of our aircraft - the greatest one mission loss for the Group during the war - but the bombers were able to attack the assigned target with good results.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Failed To Return
Comments: Shot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed near Lindenfels, Germany. MACR 3869
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑38112 ⇗ 545th JD*J MRS GEEZIL
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Fioretti, Edward Anthony⇗ 545 POW
Co-pilot Bush, Sidney Lewis⇗ 545 KIA
Navigator Merlo, Samuel Joseph⇗ 545 POW
Bombardier Griffith, Leonard Raymond⇗ 545 POW
Radio Operator Morton, Cecil Gordon⇗ 546 KIA
Engineer/Top Turret Stuhl, Walter Edward⇗ 545 KIA
Ball Turret Eyre, Charles Harris⇗ 545 KIA
Tail Gunner Rachunas, Joseph George⇗ 545 POW
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Vorisek, Donald Thomas⇗ 545 POW
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Chaperon, Phillip William⇗ 545 POW
SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS:
TYPE IDENTIFICATION
MACRMissing Air Crew Report # 3869⇗
Sortie Report 2568 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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