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Sopher, Francis Walton

Individual Personnel Data
Name Sopher, Francis Walton   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 33274204   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #77 dated 21 August 1943, effective 21 August 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - transferred to Division Gunnery School, AAF Station 172, effective 4 March 1944.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 4 March 1944
Results Transferred
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 6 March 1921
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #90 dated 5 September 1943.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #107 dated 1 October 1943.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days on or about 28 November 1943 to Moulsford Manor near Chelsey, Berkshire (a FLAK House) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #154 dated 26 November 1943.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Ashcraft, Archie Bertis, Jr⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Riggins, George Clifton⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Oppenheimer, Kenneth Harold⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Hern, Wallace Currie⇗BombardierTBD
S/SGT. Jennings, Romulus Call, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerWIA
SGT. Sopher, Francis WaltonEngineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Milstead, Willard Cleo⇗Ball Turret GunnerTBD
SGT. Lindsey, William Howard⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Oien, Clarence Holger⇗Flexible GunnerTBD
SGT. Fields, James Richard⇗Flexible GunnerWIA
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
S/Sgt James R. Fields awarded Silver Star (see 'As Briefed...', page 198). Landed away at RAF High Ercall, Shropshire.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5086⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29554⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
30⇗ 9 October 1943 Target: Aircraft Factories
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3037⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5404⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29529⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Radio Operator 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bomb release malfunction; dropped 13 bombs on target, two bombs jettisoned in Channel, one returned to base due to malfunction of bomb release mechanism.
Sortie Report⇗
49⇗ 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back at 1105 hrs because all four superchargers (electronic) were not giving the required pressure. Supporting documents indicate mission credit was awarded for this sortie.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron, Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗

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