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Stensby, Erling John

Individual Personnel Data
Name Stensby, Erling John   ‡
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Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 19175270   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #119 dated 22 June 1944, effective 22 June 1944.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 24 October 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 22 July 1910
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #165 dated 17 August 1944.
  • From duty to Temporary Duty (TD) Ebrington Manor, AAF Station 498 (a Flak House) effective 14 September 1944 (TD 7 days) per 544th Squadron Morning report 15 September 1944.
  • From Temporary Duty Ebrington Manor, AAF Station 498 to duty (TD 7 days) per 544th Squadron Morning Report 22 September 1944.



Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Patella, Joseph David⇗PilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Perchik, Simon (NMI)⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Norwitz, Gerson (NMI)⇗NavigatorCT
Flt. Ofcr. Rafeld, Richard Eugene⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Hudson, Harold Edgar⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Stensby, Erling JohnEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. French, Lorin Leroy⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hammer, Loyd Lee⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Dvorak, Frank Joseph, Jr, "Whitey"⇗Flexible GunnerCT
PVT. Marshall, Charles (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102959⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron deputy, high group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; returned to base.
Sortie Report⇗
154⇗ 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
155⇗ 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group. Landed away at Knettishall, AAF Station 136, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
158⇗ 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102617⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Forced to leave formation due to failure of #1 engine; dropped bombs on target of opportunity (TOO) near Minden, Germany.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38016⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑98000.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
189⇗ 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
On bomb run, #4 engine exhaust stack blew; jettisoned bombs before target.
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
193⇗ 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38213⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to pilot illness.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C wing, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
199⇗ 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
201⇗ 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37822.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
207⇗ 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Released bombs late.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Third Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
210⇗ 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
211⇗ 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗

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