Mission 119

The Story of Mission # 119

On 29th May 1944 the 384th were in action again.  43 aircraft were assigned to bomb the Focke-Wulf aircraft parts plant in the Krzesiny district of Poznan, Poland. The plant produced fuselage and wing parts and was thus a critical target, and one that warranted a flight of what would be over 10 hours in duration. With 2 ground spares, 1 aircraft that scrubbed the mission and 2 that aborted, 38 planes made their way towards their target, departing Grafton Underwood between 08.53am and 09.18am. Bomb load today was M-47A1 incendiary bombs.

 

Shortly after take-off, around 15 miles from base, B-17G #42-102620  “De Rumble Izer” suffered an oil leak – forced to return immediately to base, pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas Howard Fitzgerald and his crew searched frantically for a serviceable spare aircraft in which to take off and rejoin the group – they eventually found one, and left the airfield at 09.18am to catch up with the formation again.

 

Also returning early due to an oil leak that caused an engine fire, was B-17F #42-3441 “Patches II” – this aircraft was becoming war weary and was to fly just a further three combat missions before being ‘retired’ from combat duties after it’s mission on 7th June 1944 – it was to be reborn into the now famous “Spotted Cow” where it continued its duties admirably as the group formation ship.

 

Lead group low squadron lead was B-17G #42-102661 “Big Dog” on only its 3rd mission with the 384th but on its way to becoming a century bomber.

 

The weather over the target was clear with excellent fighter cover consisting of P-38’s and P-51’s - the bombing today was accurate and results good, with the incendiary bombs fuelling fires that saw smoke columns reaching up to 20,000ft.

 

Sadly of the 38 aircraft that set out that day 1 failed to return. An unnamed B-17G piloted by 20 year old Flt. Officer Mark Moore Jr., on only his 3rd mission, was hit by flak and dropped out of formation - with fires reportedly seen on board and only 5-9 chutes seen to emerge before the plane was said to have exploded. However, all ten crew survived and were taken prisoners of war.

 

Completing his tour of duty today was  Cpt. Lloyd R. Armstrong, the last remaining original 545th Bomb Squadron pilot.

 

With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website (384thbombgroup.com) for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of the Group’s activities during World War 2.

Research courtesy of Helen Childs & Keith Andrews on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.

 

 

 

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