SORTIE REPORT #3454
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 Completed Mission
Comments: High Squadron Lead.
Primary (Visual)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME GROUND CREW CHIEF
B-17G 42‑107057 ⇗ 546th BK*T SPIRIT OF 96 Priesnitz, Frank Joseph, Jr
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Lane, Edward William⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Finch, Francis Nelson⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Lord, Kenneth Smith⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Hertel, Wallace Howard⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Morlan, Emil Clayton⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Keyser, Carl Alphus⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Miller, Harold Arthur⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Kobulik, Andrew (NMI), Jr⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Bemis, Forrest James⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 3454 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
SortieEngine.php Rev. 3.3.2, 22 June 2022
Report generated: 11 October 2026, 1:57 AM (PDT)
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