Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

I like what you are doing here, including the fact that it's not digital. I would bet you could do a decent video or more formal post just by interspersing the text of the mission reports with your diorama-like formation diagrams. Think of it as a movie storyboard.

The 379th was a good group, especially after Col. Lewis Lyle assumed command. The "hard luck group" in the 41st CBW (Combat Bombardment Wing) was the 384th.

A tight group formation could mean fewer losses as the Luftwaffe looked for easier targets. Position in the wing formation was also a factor, with the most vulnerable position being the low group. And last but not least was LUCK on any given day.

This also illustrates the air to air rocket attack event documented in the debrief of the 42-5828 Sweater Girl crew...

"flaming(?) red lobbed along from above like an underhand baseball pitch - one to left, second to left behind."

Thank you again Brian for the comments. Yes. The 384th was acting in the low Bomber Group position for this combat wing. They lost one aircraft (42-29700 Jimmy Boy) on July 29, 1943 as well. I think Jimmy Boy went down about two minutes before 42-5810. Perhaps during the same pass by German pilot Hermann Staiger? This was only the 12th mission for the 384th. The inexperience also showed in the 45 minute delayed take off plus the number of aborts that day for the 384th.

Any kind of entertaining video product may take some more learning for this guy! Much to learn.

This is the listing for the 384th (Triangle P) aircraft that were on the July 29, 1943 mission.
42-3216 THE JOKER
42-30065
42-29699 OLD BATTLE-AXE
42-5848 PATCHES
42-30043 RUTHLESS
42-3104 RAIDER
42-5843 BLACK GHOST
42-29686 PIE EYED PIPER
42-30030 OLD IRONSIDES
42-30046 MERRIE HELL
42-29956 VERTICAL SHAFT
42-5889 LIBERTY BELLE (arrived 23 June 1943)
42-3230 YANKEE POWERHOUSE II
42-29700 JIMMY BOY
42-29985 Kathleen
42-3074 LOMA LEE
42-5051 BARREL HOUSE BESSIE
42-3259 ALABAMA WHIRLWIND
42-5849 HELL'S BELLES II
42-29703 KATHY JANE
42-30039 LIBERTY BELLE (arrived 29 May 1943)
42-29927 HOMESICK GAL

42-29700 JIMMY BOY
Missing in Action Kiel 29 July 1943 with James R. Roberts, Co-pilot: Paul Pate Gordy, Navigator: Richard P. Sherrer, Bombardier: Thomas F. Cawley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Paul L. Overbaugh, Radio Operator: Robert P. Goldman, Waist gunner: Howard F. Avery (7 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Chester E. Conover, Waist gunner: Joseph P. Williams,Tail gunner: Robert J. Quaranta (3 Killed in Action); loss details ?, crashed at Kaltoft, near Schwelsig, Germany, No MACR. JIMMY BOY.

Well the 379th Bomb Group (Triangle K) of this display includes
42-3212 FO-H
42-29829 Son-O-Satan
42-5821 Cindy
42-3325 Paddy Gremlin
42-29934
42-29890 Stupifier
42-30001 Mary Ann
42-3056
42-5828 Sweater Girl
42-5820 Mystic
42-30191 “The Bolevich”
42-3176 Lady Astrid
42-29830 Peter Wabbit
42-5810 Production-block: B-17F-25-VE: 42-5805 to 42-5854
42-3258 W. Carnal with Navigator Elmer Bendiner B-17F-40-DL
42-29905 LF-Z
42-30158 Mary Jane II lost on 1st Schweinfurt raid FR-X
42-3199 CALAMITY JANE B-17F-35-DL Fortress
42-29759 GAY CABALLEROS
42-29933 Lucky Lady Some sources said, this B-17 also known as ‘Panama Hatti’

Added flak bursts and a JU88 that was documented as trailing the formation from far above and behind

Think I will call this 379th Bomb Group part of the effort complete.