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Ward, Donald Leroy

Individual Personnel Data
Name Ward, Donald Leroy
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-703541
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #107 dated 8 June 1944, effective 8 June 1944.
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #242, effective 10 December 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th Replacement Depot, AAF Station 594, per Headquarters Detachment, 384th Bomb Group Morning Report dated 19 December 1944, effective 14 December 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 14 December 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 5 July 1918
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Big Spring AAF, Big Spring, Texas, Class #43-18, 24 December 1943.
  • Appointed First Lieutenant per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 19 August 1944.
  • Granted a seven (7) day operational leave of absence effective 22 September 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #187 dated 21 September 1944.
  • Detailed as Group Bombardier (Prim) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #242 dated 10 December 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Allred, Frank LavonPilotCT
2nd Lt. Reed, William MarcusCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. O'Sullivan, Timothy JamesNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Ward, Donald LeroyBombardierCT
S/SGT. Drury, Eldon BoydRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Noble, Raymon LewisEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Leschak, Nickolas, JrBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Mitchell, Robert McKinley, JrBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Hunt, Virgil DowellTail GunnerCT
SGT. Redcay, Carl HarryFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
136 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Bombardier 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Bombardier 42‑31435 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Bombardier 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
146 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Bombardier 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
159 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Bombardier 42‑107224 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Deputy, Hot Camera Ship. Led the Low Group after Lead ship was damaged and couldn't keep up.
Sortie Report
164 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France
Bombardier 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
165 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Bombardier 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
High Group Deputy and Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report
169 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France
Bombardier 43‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
High Group Lead.
Sortie Report
171 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report
176 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97960 Combat Mission Credit
Low group. Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑37822, which was found to have a bad engine after takeoff. Returned to base and took off late, intercepting the formation at the English coast.
Sortie Report
178 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Bombardier 42‑97960 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
179 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Bombardier 42‑102933 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report
183 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report
189 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report
194 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38016 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report
197 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
211 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 44‑8007 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
213 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 44‑8008 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. PFF ship. Took over on bomb run after lead Gee-h equipment failed, but too late to bomb primary. Led Squadron to attack secondary by PFF.
Sortie Report
214 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Deputy. Gee-H ship. Took over at IP and led Squadron on bomb run.
Sortie Report
216 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
218 2 November 1944 Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany
Bombardier 43‑38016 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Gee-H equipment failed before IP. Attempted to follow low Squadron, but they turned off the bomb run. Then tried to catch lead Squadron, but were unable. Then led Squadron to a visual attack on the briefed last resort target.
Sortie Report
219 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany
Bombardier 42‑107125 Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy. Took lead for bomb run and bombing with Gee-H.
Sortie Report
224 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 44‑8401 Combat Mission Credit
41D Squadron, Squadron Lead. PFF ship. Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Feathered #3 after flak hit oil cooler and we lost our oil.'
Sortie Report
227 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38016 Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing C group. The mission commander's narrative states: 'A/C 8016 (Pilot Gilbert) returned early due to engine failure. Bombs were jettisoned.' According to Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Five minutes before target, had a runaway prop and finally feathered it due to vibration. At 29,000 ft. we could not climb and lost our formation. Came back alone.'
Sortie Report
228 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 44‑8401 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, A group.
Sortie Report
233 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany
Bombardier 44‑8221 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑97592. Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
236 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑98027 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report

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