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Estes, Thomas Jefferson

Individual Personnel Data
Name Estes, Thomas Jefferson
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / Captain
Serial Number O-792589
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 Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 8 February 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received on 25 July 1943 per General Orders #84, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Wing dated 10 August 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 22 August 1916
  • Appointed First Lieutenant effective 26 April 1943 per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 2 May 1943.
  • Transferred overseas (via Army Air Base Presque Isle, Maine) on Army Air Base HQ Kearney, Nebraska Special Orders #96 dated 17 May 1943.
  • Paragraph 1, EXTRACT, AAF Station 106 Special Orders #62 detailing selected officers for one day Temporary Duty (TD) to London for Public Relation Activities on or about 2 August 1943 was amended by paragraph 7, AAF Station 106 Special Orders #111 changing one day TD to two days TD.
  • 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.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Estes, Thomas JeffersonPilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Merritt, James Melvin⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. DuBois, John Jay⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Davis, David Harold⇗BombardierCT
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 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 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 		Co-pilot 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 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Pilot 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 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 		Pilot 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Pilot 42‑3429⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; unable to locate formation after passing through cloud layer.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Pilot 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Pilot 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
36⇗ 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway 		Pilot 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
45⇗ 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Pilot 41‑9022⇗ Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
49⇗ 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Pilot 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Co-pilot 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗

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