| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1944‑05‑28 | 118 | 376 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany |
| The "Grapefruit" Mission: For the second mission of the day - identified as 'Grapefruit Mission' in Group records - the 384th Bombardment Group (H) formed the High Group of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing, the sole wing comprising Air Task Force 5. This was an experimental attack using first-generation glide bombs. The primary target is identified as 'Railroad Marshaling Yards' or 'Industrial Center of City' in various Group documents. A great deal of practice and experimentation was involved in preparing crews and equipment for this mission. Results were inconclusive; however, it should be noted that the 384th did not repeat an attack of this type again. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Spare, Completed Mission Comments: Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑107064. |
Primary (Visual) |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑3441 ⇗ | 547th | SO*E | PATCHES II / SPOTTED COW |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Dean, Ralph Merrick, Jr⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Swan, John Loyal⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Turner, Ralph Franklin, Jr⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Togglier | Phillips, Carlton Vernon⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Wasserman, Joseph Jacob⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Oehlkers, Walter (NMI)⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Ball Turret | Davis, Lionel Gordon⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Tail Gunner | Wiley, Roger Carroll⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Sylvester, Carlton John⇗ | 545 | Completed, Uninjured |