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Van Natter, William Burton

Individual Personnel Data
Name Van Natter, William Burton
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 32668773
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72 dated 16 April 1944, effective 16 April 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 26 July 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 13 December 1922
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station Special Orders #81 dated 1 May 1944.
  • Placed on seven Days Temporary Duty to American Red Cross Club, Southport, Lancashire (a Flak House) on 22 June 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #119 dated 22 June 1944.
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #133 dated 8 July 1944.
  • Completed tour and transferred to 12th RCD on 26 July 1944 (squadron history, A0641-00231).
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Wortman, Marshall (NMI)PilotCT
2nd Lt. Mulvehill, Edmund WhelanCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Shoolbred, Charles EwenNavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Leverette, James HaroldNavigatorCT
S/SGT. Van Natter, William BurtonRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Radtke, Hilbert RobertEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Irwin, Robert TaitBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Malone, George MartinTail GunnerCT
SGT. Radde, Gerhardt Carl, "Gus"Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Simeone, Frank JosephFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
100 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, composite high group, 94th CBW.
Sortie Report
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
103 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97263. Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
108 15 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
115 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France
Radio Operator 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
117 28 May 1944 Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
120 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0926 hrs because radio operator became ill.
Sortie Report
122 2 June 1944 Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
128 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France
Radio Operator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
M Squadron.
Sortie Report
130 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Radio Operator 42‑97960 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
131 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Polebrook, AAF Station 110, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
41D Group.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
140 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
141 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
142 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97201 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
154 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Radio Operator 42‑97201 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
155 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑107064 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
156 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑107064 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
158 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97367 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron Hot Camera Ship. Crash-landed at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, on return due to battle damage.
Sortie Report
160 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97237 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Hot Camera ship.
Sortie Report
161 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97204 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report

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