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Rininsland, Bruce Martin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Rininsland, Bruce Martin   
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-680714   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #121 dated 18 October 1943, effective 18 October 1943.
Duty Co-pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 9 March 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, South Minneapolis, Minnesota
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 29 September 1920
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3005 (31.437 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Reed, Merlin HowardPilotMIA
2nd Lt. Rininsland, Bruce MartinCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Heiss, John LawrenceBombardierKIA
T/SGT. Wellman, Robert FrancisRadio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Johnson, Robert O (1943)Engineer / Top Turret GunnerMIA
S/SGT. Osepchook, Arthur JohnBall Turret GunnerPOW
PVT. Hardy, Emmet FrancisTail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Plotz, John JamesFlexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Casey, Robert JosephFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 17 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
35 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑29636 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Co-pilot 41‑24525 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report
47 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group. Turned back at 1350 hrs over Beachy Head because 'this aircraft took off late and could not find a position open in the formation.'
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑31222 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at Sleaford at 1000 hrs because of runaway prop on #2 engine.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
59 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
60 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
66 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37792 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron, low group.
Sortie Report
67 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37885 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Ground Spare aircraft. Replaced 42‑31211.
Sortie Report
68 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Co-pilot 42‑31211 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
69 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37801 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group, high Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑31375 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37781 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy, high group, 40th Composite Combat Bomb Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report
73 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37781 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
74 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑37781 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. MACR 3005
Sortie Report

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