On 28th March 1945 the 384th were in action again with 43 B17s assigned to a mission to bomb the Berlin/Spandau motor transport works in Germany. With 2 B17s that scrubbed and 1 that aborted the mission 40 aircraft took off and made their way towards the target. Low Squadron lead today was Trail Blazer piloted by Raymond D Cook with Commander Phillip Young Williams and 3 navigators on board (pictured).

 

It was the final mission of the tour for many aircrew today. Firstly Joseph George Hartness, flying as co-pilot today on an unnamed but pictured B17. It was his 48th mission. His first was in January 1944, so he was at Grafton Underwood throughout ‘Big Week’ and the 13th April ‘44 mission to Schweinfurt - where the 384th lost 9 B17s out of 21 that set off towards the target that day. Perhaps his most well known mission was in September 1944 where he was pilot of “Bolo Babe” which crash landed behind enemy lines. After evading capture while the allies pushed the German back to beyond their crash site the crew were able to return to their plane for this iconic photo. The tail gunner on that mission Delmar Beesley died when his plane “Heavenly Body” exploded shortly after being hit on 23rd March 1945. Please do read “Beesley’s Briefing” from the 384th bomb group website.

 

Also completing their tours are Radio operator Leslie “Bus” Dallas Newman (pictured left) and Gunner Louis Misko.

 

The 384th bombed the secondary target on today’s mission - Deutsche Industry Werke at Spandau. All planes returned safely.