| MISSION DATA: | |||
| DATE | 384th BG Mission # | 8th AF Mission # | 384th PRIMARY TARGET |
| 1943‑10‑14 | 32 | 115 | Target: Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany |
| "Second Schweinfurt" aka "Black Thursday": The 384th Bombardment Group (H) put up three squadrons on today's mission. However, six aircraft aborted, reducing the number that bombed the primary target. A further six aircraft were knocked out by enemy action. An all-too-familiar situation faced the returning crews - bad weather over East Anglia. Three Aircraft were lost when the crews, unable to locate a suitable place to land in England, bailed out and abandoned them, while most of the remainder landed at other airfields. | |||
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| Yes |
Crashed In Allied Territory Comments: Crew bailed out over England; their battle-damaged aircraft crash-landed near Baydon, Wiltshire. Erwin C. Johnson and Elliott L. Gadd were injured as a result of bailing out. Johnson did not fly again. Gadd remained off flight status until 5 December 1943. |
N/A |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑29784 ⇗ | 545th | JD*V | SMILIN-THRU |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Johnson, Erwin Crawford⇗ | 546 | Seriously Wounded |
| Co-pilot | Gadd, Elliott Leroy⇗ | 546 | Wounded |
| Navigator | Bailey, William Eugene⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Bombardier | Littleton, George James⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Radio Operator | Ranallo, Sam David⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Engineer/Top Turret | Hunt, Leo Albert⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Ball Turret | Couture, Clement Adrian⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Tail Gunner | Parsons, Lawrence Lincoln⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Baker, Earl Shelton⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |
| Waist (Flexible) Gunner | Fless, Gustave (NMI)⇗ | 546 | Bailed Out Over England |