384th BGHA - June 25, 1943

June 25, 1943

384th Bomb Group Mission #2

Target for the day: Submarine pens in Hamburg, Germany

Battlewagon | Courtesy of Samuel Hayes Smart and 384thBombGroup.com⇗

June 25, 1943: The 384th Bomb Group flies their second combat mission.

Their target for the day was the submarine pen in Hamburg, Germany.

Things got off to a rocky start with poor weather. While 22 aircraft were originally scheduled to fly for a maximum effort, Major Thomas Pope Beckett (Operations Officer)⇗ noted in the S-3 Narrative of Mission report⇗, "Prior to joining the Wing, our formation confronted considerable rain and a heavy cloud bank, forcing eight planes to return."

Mechanical failures also caused more crews to return to base. Some of these failures included an erratic altimeter and gyrocompass for B-17F 42-30058⇗, piloted by 2nd Lt. Everett Frink⇗. Battlewagon⇗, piloted by 2nd Lt. Philip Algar⇗, lost their windshield motor causing the cockpit to fill with smoke. Flak Dancer⇗, piloted by 2nd Lt. Delton Wheat⇗, had a faulty oil regulator.

Of the original 22 aircraft scheduled to fly, only 5 completed the mission, and 3 failed to return.

Leading the Group on this mission was Major Selden McMillin (Deputy Group Commander and Pilot) on B-17F 42‑5850⇗.

Intelligence reports noted that enemy fighters quickly attacked the Group. Major Beckett also recorded in his report, "fighter opposition was estimated to have been about 150, composed mainly of Focke Wulf 190's and Messerschmitt 109's."

In his Anti-Aircraft Gun Fire Report⇗, 2nd Lt. Samuel F. Arauz⇗ wrote, "generally, the anti-aircraft gun fire encountered was reported as being from meager to moderate at heights of 21,000 to 27,000 feet." He also noted that the accuracy varied by altitude.

Although the enemy fire wasn't always accurate, Major McMillin and his crew were among those who took the brunt of it. A direct hit to his wing, and the loss of an engine, caused him to quickly lose altitude. Despite the damage, Major McMillin held his course and completed a successful bombing run on the target. His profound skill, bravery, and unwavering devotion to duty that day earned him the Silver Star and also served as a lasting inspiration to the Group. Although he was captured and taken prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, Germany, his most permanent contribution to the Group was still to come.

Major Selden McMillin | Courtesy of Mark Meehl and 384thBombGroup.com⇗

Today’s mission came with a heavy price. 7 crewmembers were killed in action, 21 became prisoners of war, and 2 remain missing and unaccounted for to this day. (Their names are listed at the end of this story.)

Back at Grafton Underwood, the mood was heavy as the men carried these losses.

One day, just before a crew briefing, a postcard arrived from Germany addressed, "To My Commanding Officer" (Colonel Budd Peaslee). It was from Major McMillin. He set aside the harsh reality of his captivity to focus solely on the mission and the men he left behind. To his brothers-in-arms, he wrote the simple message, "Let’s keep the show on the road."

McMillin’s words were not only a final command to his men, but they were also proof of his unwavering belief in the men of the 384th Bomb Group. Those words would serve as a permanent reminder for the men to keep pressing forward while holding their heads high. The message resonated so deeply that it was soon instated as the group’s new motto, replacing their previous motto, “Veni Vidi Vici” (I came. I saw. I conquered.).

Crew losses from this day include:

Killed in Action:

Missing in Action:

Prisoners of War:

Information courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com Mission Summary #2⇗, S-3 Narrative of Mission Report⇗ by Major Thomas Pope Beckett, and Anti-Aircraft Gun Fire Report⇗ by 2nd Lt. Samuel F. Arauz