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Davis, David Harold

Individual Personnel Data
Name Davis, David Harold
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-734436
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 Extract dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 15 January 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Extra Achievement, date recommended, 26 July 1943.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, oak leaf cluster for completion of 25 missions.
Awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received on 25 July 1943 per General Orders #84, Headquarters 1st Bomb Wing dated 10 August 1943.
Awarded the Air Medal for completion of five missions.
Awarded three oak leaf clusters to the Air Medal for completing 10, 15 and 20 missions.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 28 February 1921
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Childress AAF, Childress, Texas, Class #43-16, 13 November 1943.
  • Transferred overseas (via Army Air Base Presque Isle, Maine) on Army Air Base HQ Kearney, Nebraska Special Orders #96 dated 17 May 1943.
  • Appointed First Lieutenant effective 5 July 1943 per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 16 July 1943.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty (R&R) on or about 25 September 1943 for five days to The Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #102 dated 23 September 1943.
  • Ditched/rescued on 30 December 1943 (MACR 1768).
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1768⇓ (1.636 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Estes, Thomas Jefferson⇗PilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Merritt, James Melvin⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. DuBois, John Jay⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Davis, David HaroldBombardierCT
S/SGT. Wagner, Fred S⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Cochran, David Leon⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Ursta, George (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. McDuffie, Burton Curtis⇗Tail GunnerCT
PVT. O'Donnell, William John⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Self, James Melvin, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerCT

Crew History

The Estes Crew joined the 544th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #2" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #43" in the squadron.
Before moving to England, McDuffie was temporarily replaced by S/Sgt John V Selgo. McDuffie rejoined the crew in time for its first mission on 25 June 1943. The crew stayed unusually intact during its tour, and all completed their combat tour of duty except for Wagner, who fell unconscious from the bomb bay on 4 January 1944 while trying to free the bomb bay doors which were stuck open. Wagner regained consciousness, opened his 'chute and was captured upon landing, spending the rest of the war as a POW.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bombed an unknown city.
Sortie Report⇗
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑30073⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back when #3 engine failed off the coast of France.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Navigator 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy and High Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30073.
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑30073⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Bombardier 42‑3330⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30073.
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑5883⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5883⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead. Damaged by flak and fighters, ditched in the North Sea. Rescued by a Danish fishing boat; returned to duty.
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Bombardier 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Bombardier 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away near Dungeness, Kent, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy lead.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29651⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Turned back early after #2 supercharger ran away off the coast of Belgium. Bombs were jettisoned in the Channel and they landed away at Great Ashfield.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5747.
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29651⇗ Sortie Report⇗
36⇗ 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway 		Bombardier 42‑37828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Lissett, Yorkshire.
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group. Aborted with generator trouble.
Sortie Report⇗
45⇗ 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31274⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite Squadron Ldr; mechanical fault; 15 mins over France #1 prop ran away, threw chunks of cowling, and caught on fire; MACR 1768; ditched in Channel at 1125 hrs; nine crew picked up, one missing; crew at Swanley Manor Hospital in Lewes.
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Bombardier 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗

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