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Chapin, Robert Charles

Individual Personnel Data
Name Chapin, Robert Charles
Rank Second Lieutenant / Major
Serial Number O-685535
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #126 dated 23 October 1943, effective 23 October 1943.
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #193, effective 30 September 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th RD, Station 594, per Headquarters Detachment,384th Bomb Group Morning Report (PAR 1, SO 161, HQ, 1AD) dated 14 June 1945, effective 14 June 1945.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 14 June 1945
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Ordered to travel to 302nd Dispensary, AAF Station 101, Pinetree, for study by Central Medical Board on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #159 dated 3 December 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 11 May 1944 to 8th AF Officers Rest Home, Standridge Earl, Hampshire (a Flak house) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #87 dated 10 May 1944.
  • Detailed Group Navigator (Primary) effective 30 September 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #193 dated 30 September 1944.
  • Appointed to a board of officers, purpose of the board - for the conducting of preliminary investigation for the termination of appointment of flight officers effective 6 January 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders # 5 dated 6 January 1945.
  • Ordered to London on 16 January 1945 for approximately two days Temporary Duty, purpose Public Relations Office (PRO) Radio Activities per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #12 dated 14 January 1945.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-11-16-534 (1.778 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Horton, Lloyd (NMI), JrPilotCT
2nd Lt. Miller, James Gilmore, IICo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Chapin, Robert CharlesNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Rymer, Albert RayBombardierCT
PVT. Braman, William StuartRadio Operator / GunnerTR
S/SGT. Wallace, Virgil LeonardEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Schekel, Lorin EdwinTail GunnerCT
SGT. Ukrain, Sidney CharlesFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Conn, Robert JohnFlexible GunnerTR

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 39 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
35 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑29636 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
38 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑37781 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at 'Coltishall' (or 'Cottishall'). Intelligence Officer report, item 6, includes the statement: 'A/C 781, Lt. TAYLOR, Pilot has reported one killed and three wounded men aboard at landing.' The wounded individuals are not identified.
Sortie Report
40 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France
Navigator 42‑31222 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy; aborted due to a "broken piston head in #2 engine."
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group. Aborted with loss of oil pressure in #2 engine. Attacked Wittmund, Germany, as a Target Of Opportunity (TOO). Geographic location given is closer to Neßmersiel than Wittmund.
Sortie Report
44 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31045 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report
48 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France
Navigator 42‑29723 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31222 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous.
Sortie Report
52 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Navigator 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑31211 Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
60 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑37848 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
65 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Navigator 42‑37848 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Lead.
Sortie Report
68 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
79 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, composite high group.
Sortie Report
81 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
84 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France
Navigator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97139. Wing lead.
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
94 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
99 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France
Navigator 42‑31211 Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead.
Sortie Report
104 9 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France
Navigator 42‑31364 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
112 22 May 1944 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Navigator 42‑97533 Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead. PFF aircraft and remainder of unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Navigator 42‑97574 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. PFF ship provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report
204 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Navigator 42‑107125 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
208 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 44‑8008 Combat Mission Credit
Group and wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
216 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 44‑8007 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
222 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Navigator 44‑8008 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
-- 16 November 1944 None
Non-combat sortie
Navigator 43‑38588 During an administrative flight to Villacoublay Airfield, near Paris, France, weather closed in forcing a diversion to A-46 (Toussous le Noble). Through a misunderstanding, pilot landed on a runway that was closed to B-17 traffic. The right main gear sank into a filled bomb crater at the end of the landing roll, damaging portions of the right wing, engines, and propellors. There were no injuries to personnel.
Sortie Report
234 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany
Navigator 44‑8007 Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
241 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany
Navigator 44‑8221 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea, Wales.
Sortie Report
248 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany
Navigator 44‑8216 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship. Prevented from attacking the primary target by weather, led an attack on the secondary PFF target, but did not attack when PFF equipment failed. After several additional failed attempts to attack the secondary and last resort targets, finally attacked a target of opportunity (TOO).
Sortie Report
250 3 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium
Navigator 42‑98027 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
268 19 February 1945 Target: Coking Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 44‑8541 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
285 10 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Schwerte, Germany
Navigator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
293 20 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑98027 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
300 30 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Schiff- u. Maschinenbau A.G. (DESCHIMAG)
Submarine and Warship Yard
Machine Shop
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
This aircraft replaced 42‑98027. 'Cowboy-Scouter' mission.
Sortie Report
301 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Navigator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
310 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France
Navigator 44‑8401 Combat Mission Credit
Col. Milton, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report

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