SORTIE REPORT #8167
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑12‑11 238 746 Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Rhine Bridge(s) Targeted: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew four squadrons on today's mission. Three squadrons comprised the 41st Combat Wing B Group, and the remaining squadron flew in the low position of the 41st D Group. The target for all was a bridge (or adjacent bridges) for road and rail traffic across the Rhine River linking Mannheim with Ludwigshafen. The B Group lead and low squadrons bombed by PFF, while the B Group high squadron, and the low squadron of the D Group bombed by Gee-H.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission Primary (PFF)
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑37822 ⇗ 544th SU*C THE 'LEAD BANANA'
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot DeFrancesco, John Joseph⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot Simmons, Robert Edwin⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Moon, William Everett⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Brown, William C⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Bias, Ira J, Jr⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret Howell, Evan Lawrence⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Doleshal, Charles Joseph⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Hastings, Harmon Charles⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Williams, John Allen⇗ 544 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 8167 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
SortieEngine.php Rev. 3.3.2, 22 June 2022
Report generated: 12 October 2026, 4:18 PM (PDT)
Site design and content © 1999-2026 by Webmaster