The target for this mission was the hydro-electric power station at Rjukan, about 75 miles due west of Oslo. Assembly for this long-range mission was far from normal due to extremely poor weather. Sporadic instrument conditions prevailed from 1,000 to at least 23,000 feet. Cloud cover coupled with icing conditions resulted in several planes not finding their formation.
The 392nd BG briefed 21 crews; 2 did not take off due to mechanical problems. Another 6 planes aborted in the air: 2 (Clover in #537 and Gonseth in #485) had joined the 44th BG formation and returned when they did; 2 (Reade in #478 and Baumgart in #510) could not find any formation to join; and 2 (Hull in #135 and Voght in #626) had mechanical problems.
The 392nd had assembled its remaining 13 planes before reaching Cromer, going to 20,000 feet to accomplish the task. Several individual planes joined in to form a composite formation, which the 392nd followed to the secondary target. As they made the second run, the 392nd made a wider swing to the east, lost them, came back to the east and made a run on the target. Clouds obscured the target intermittently.
Bombs were dropped from 14,000 feet at 1212 hours. Photo analysis on return showed that 29.5 tons of bombs were dropped on the Norsk Hydro Nitrate Plant three miles east of the secondary with only 2.5 tons dropped on the hydro-electric plant. This was unfortunate, as the bombing was excellent. Using the center of the large centrally-located building as an MPI, the 392nd had 37 percent of its bombs within 1000 feet and 85 percent within 2000 feet.
No enemy aircraft were encountered and the Group suffered no aircraft losses or casualties. This raid was to be one of the longer ones flown by the 392nd with a total of 9:30 hours duration.
On 4 Feb 1944, Capt Whittaker received word that he had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his skill and ability as lead bombardier on this mission.
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16 Nov 1943 576th Sqdn. A/C 537 (abort, no sortie credit) |
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P Clover, D.K. 2nd Lt. CP Berger, R.M. 2nd Lt. N McMillan, W.J. 2nd Lt. B McDonald, P.R. 2nd Lt. R Galler, I. T/Sgt. AR Bell, R.W. S/Sgt. E Losey, J.C. S/Sgt. AE Hussey, T.J. S/Sgt. G Ross, J.M. S/Sgt. AG Royal, C.K. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 576th Sqdn. A/C 527 (did not take off) |
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P Connery, W.R. 2nd Lt. CP Cooper, R.W. 2nd Lt. N Porter, C.V. 2nd Lt. B Breck, J.H. Jr. 2nd Lt. R Shilling, R.E. T/Sgt. AR Allen, I.M. S/Sgt. E Heller, L.M. S/Sgt. AE Leibow, G. Sgt. G Smith, J.W. S/Sgt. AG Glende, B.I. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 576th Sqdn. A/C 506 |
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P Bingham, M.O. 2nd Lt. CP Winkler, R.D. 2nd Lt. N Schutz, G.T. 2nd Lt. B Graham, J.F. Jr. 2nd Lt. R Massimiani, O.A. Sgt. AR Nemeth, J.L. Sgt. E Decker, C.D. T/Sgt. AE Harris, M.C. Sgt. G Claffey, L.A. S/Sgt. AG Harvison, W.P. Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 577th Sqdn. A/C 493 |
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CA Taylor, W.V. Maj. P Bolick, H.P. Jr. 2nd Lt. CP Smith, H.J. 2nd Lt. N Maupin, J.C. 2nd Lt. B Yarbrough, W.L. Jr. 2nd Lt. R Campbell, G.L. T/Sgt. AR Klinchock, J.J. S/Sgt. E Love, W.E. T/Sgt. AE Krogh, J.A. Sgt. G Craig, J.D. S/Sgt. AG Harris, D.W. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 577th Sqdn. A/C 495 |
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CA Gilbert, L.G. Maj. P Graper, M.H. 1st Lt. CP Williamson, D.R. 2nd Lt. N Jones, J.H. 1st Lt. B Weiland, H.F. 1st Lt. B Rapenport, R. 2nd Lt. R Lorenzen, W.H. T/Sgt. AR Kolczynski, W.J. S/Sgt. E McKinley, W.C. T/Sgt. AE White, F.A. S/Sgt. G Buzick, J.M. S/Sgt. AG Cordick, D.H. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 577th Sqdn. A/C 496 |
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P Lambert, R.P. 2nd Lt. CP Haviland, A.F. 2nd Lt. N Kapp, R.A. 2nd Lt. B Godfrey, H.M. 2nd Lt. R Brown, J.S. T/Sgt. AR Day, W.N. S/Sgt. E Reese, W.J. T/Sgt. AE Tantum, W.R. S/Sgt. G Taylor, G.E. Sgt. AG Pfeifer, A. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 577th Sqdn. A/C 485 (abort, no sortie credit) |
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P Gonseth, F. 1st Lt. CP Slipp, F.E. 2nd Lt. N Delach, J.J. 2nd Lt. B Colburn, R.F. 2nd Lt. R Kirkpatrick, H.L. T/Sgt. AR Smith, A.C. S/Sgt. E Jennings, H.C. T/Sgt. AE Stevens, R.K. S/Sgt. G Opsahl, R.C. S/Sgt. AG Apgar, D.R. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 577th Sqdn. A/C 472 |
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P Copp, R.D. 1st Lt. CP Schoolmaster, C.F. Capt. N Gries, R.F. 2nd Lt. B Kelley, J.J. 2nd Lt. R Bisnett, B.R. T/Sgt. AR Nowicki, M.M. S/Sgt. E Hodge, G.L. T/Sgt. AE Meyers, J.W. 2nd Lt. G Noone, T.E. Jr. S/Sgt. AG Hohman, H. S/Sgt. Floyd, C.E. 2nd Lt. |
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16 Nov 1943 577th Sqdn. A/C 479 |
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P McNichol, T.F. 2nd Lt. CP Lamer, M. 2nd Lt. N Naylor, M.W. 2nd Lt. B Wargo, M.A. 2nd Lt. R O'Kon, M.A. T/Sgt. AR MacPherson, A.J. S/Sgt. E Trumpy, E. T/Sgt. AE Green, L.A. S/Sgt. G Rathburn, E.K. S/Sgt. AG Lloyd, W.A. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 578th Sqdn. A/C 466 |
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P George, F.A. 2nd Lt. CP Stephens, L.M. 2nd Lt. N Sweeney, P.J. 2nd Lt. B Kelly, F.B. 2nd Lt. R Sweeney, L.F. T/Sgt. AR Sheppard, W.B. S/Sgt. E Parker, J.D. T/Sgt. AE Goodall, W.J. S/Sgt. G Theodore, R.N. S/Sgt. AG Ellingson, H.E. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 578th Sqdn. A/C 478 (abort, no sortie credit) |
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P Reade, J.J. 1st Lt. CP Smith, R.L. 2nd Lt. N Planche, M.M. 1st Lt. B Simons, L. 2nd Lt. R Schwabel, C.A. T/Sgt. AR Bauer, W.E. S/Sgt. E Sackal, W.M. T/Sgt. AE Nuzum, M.E. S/Sgt. G Malavasic, A.F. S/Sgt. AG Wagner, D.R. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 578th Sqdn. A/C 502 |
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P Fletcher, R.E. 1st Lt. CP Graham, J.E. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Woody, H.E. 2nd Lt. B Judd, G.W. 2nd Lt. R Biska, S.L. Pvt. AR Mancuso, M.A. S/Sgt. E Kelly, J.E. T/Sgt. AE Kimball, R.A. S/Sgt. G Wukotich, M.L. S/Sgt. AG McNiel, J.M. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 578th Sqdn. A/C 486 |
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P Dudziak, T. 2nd Lt. CP Miller, J.A. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Berlin, W. 2nd Lt. B Cattano, J.V. 2nd Lt. R Watson, H.Q. T/Sgt. AR Methals, A. S/Sgt. E Bauer, H.P. T/Sgt. AE Patterson, E.A. Jr. S/Sgt. G Naters, E.R. S/Sgt. AG Bartholomew, D. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 578th Sqdn. A/C 489 |
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P Lishka, A. 1st Lt. CP Feld, B.H. 2nd Lt. N Johnson, D.C. 2nd Lt. B Brockway, O.E. 2nd Lt. R Clark, F.C. S/Sgt. AR Dohm, H.E. S/Sgt. E Carlson, C.E. S/Sgt. AE Halstead, H.C. S/Sgt. G Drylie, J. S/Sgt. AG Dedmon, S.E. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 578th Sqdn. A/C 480 |
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CA Polking, W.A. Maj. P Stauder, J.B. 1st Lt. CP Parrish, N.T. 2nd Lt. N Dinsmore, R.S. 1st Lt. B Ward, M.E. 2nd Lt. R Whitmore, B. Jr. T/Sgt. AR Rider, F.D. S/Sgt. E Kottke, A.H. T/Sgt. AE White, T. S/Sgt. G Harrod, C. Jr. S/Sgt. AG Harris, J.N. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 579th Sqdn. A/C 135 (abort, no sortie credit) |
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CA Holloman, C.C. 1st Lt. P Hull, R.L. 2nd Lt. CP Durrance, E.E. 2nd Lt. N Coleman, V.B. 2nd Lt. B Lessey, J.E. 2nd Lt. R West, G.E. T/Sgt. AR Griffin, E.F. S/Sgt. E Hay, W.R. T/Sgt. AE Surls, D.L. S/Sgt. G Buchert, W.L. Sgt. AG Vasquez, R. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 579th Sqdn. A/C 500 (did not take off) |
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P Kubale, E.W. 2nd Lt. CP Dickson, J.W. 2nd Lt. N McDade, J.J. 2nd Lt. B White, E.I. 2nd Lt. R Tribbet, K.S. S/Sgt. AR Zimpleman, J.G. S/Sgt. E Kjelshus, E.H. T/Sgt. AE York, R.A. S/Sgt. G Yarbrough, W.L. S/Sgt. AG Reilly, B. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 579th Sqdn. A/C 510 (abort, no sortie credit) |
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P Baumgart, V.A. 2nd Lt. CP Cordes, W.C. 2nd Lt. N Crouch, M.C. 2nd Lt. B Stupski, S.J. 2nd Lt. R Kiss, J. S/Sgt. AR Yost, J.W. S/Sgt. E Smith, D.L. S/Sgt. AE Davis, H. T/Sgt. G Fons, J.P. S/Sgt. AG Money, J.A. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 579th Sqdn. A/C 556 |
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P Higgins, J.A. 2nd Lt. CP Wharton, P. 2nd Lt. N Casey, H.W. 2nd Lt. B Broyles, C. 2nd Lt. R Cauble, W.R. T/Sgt. AR Rothrock, C.T. S/Sgt. E Boerschinger, M.F. T/Sgt. AE Bookout, R.J. Sgt. G York, D.L. Sgt. AG Piper, C.A. Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 579th Sqdn. A/C 626 (abort, no sortie credit) |
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P Voght, G.F. 1st Lt. CP Detrick, J.W. 1st Lt. N Witsell, E.F. Capt. B Hall, H.P. 1st Lt. R Andrews, W.E. T/Sgt. AR Castle, O.D. S/Sgt. E Owen, E.D. T/Sgt. AE Ross, J.R. S/Sgt. G Bacon, G.W. S/Sgt. AG Dill, W.F. S/Sgt. |
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16 Nov 1943 579th Sqdn. A/C 529 |
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P Goff, J.F. 1st Lt. CP Piper, J.E. 2nd Lt. N Keck, R.W. 2nd Lt. B Cleaton, C.T. 2nd Lt. R Wright, R.R. T/Sgt. AR Jackson, H. S/Sgt. E Lett, E.W. T/Sgt. AE Long, B. S/Sgt. G Housteau, J.M. S/Sgt. AG Putnam, N.I. S/Sgt. Kennedy, T. 2nd Lt. |
