Goodrick, Gene Robert

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Goodrick, Gene Robert ‡ ⇗
Rank	Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number	O-760823 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #140 dated 17 July 1944, effective 17 July 1944. Transferred to the 70th Replacement Depot, AAF Station Chorley, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 4 February 1945, effective 29 January 1945.
Duty	Pilot
MOS	1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date	29 January 1945
Results	Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Decorations	Awarded the Silver Star for 'gallantry in action' during a mission over Germany on 30 November 1944.
Citation For Higher Decoration	SILVER STAR. GENE R. GOODRICK, O-760823, First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For gallantry in action while piloting a B-17 bomber on a penetration mission over Germany, 30 November 1944. Unable to observe the target on the initial run due to dense contrails left by preceding formations, Lieutenant Goodrick ordered the bombs held. Just after turning to make the second bomb run, an almost direct burst of flak exploded the oxygen tank under the flight deck and started a fierce fire. In the resultant confusion, the navigator, bombardier, co-pilot, and engineer bailed out, but Lieutenant Goodrick remained cool, his only concern at the moment being to hold his position and perform his duty. Immediately after releasing the bombs, he left the formation, rejoining his unit later after the fire had been extinguished. Arriving at the base after dark with the hydraulic and electrical systems destroyed, Lieutenant Goodrick exhibited a high degree of skill by safely landing the crippled bomber unassisted. His courage, skill and tenacity of purpose are worthy of the highest praise. Entered Military service from Missouri. Citation Source: 'As Briefed...'
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 11 November 1921 Promoted to 1Lt on 4 September 1944, per squadron history (microfilm A0641-00242). Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Furzedown House, AAF Station 563 (a Flak House) on 16 October 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #204 dated 15 October 1944. Awarded Silver Star medal for his handling of events during 30 November 1944 mission to attack targets in Zeitz, Germany, aboard aircraft 42-38800, 'BUSY BUZZARD'. For his description of this mission, click on the 'Related Story' link - and for his navigator's story, read the 'Navigator' chapter of 'B-17 Fortress At War' by Roger Freeman. Ordered on appproximately two days Temorary Duty to London on 22 December 1944, purpose Public Relations Office (PRO) Radio Activities per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #252 dated 21 December 1944.
Related Documents	Missing Air Crew Report # 11111⇓ (30.544 MB) Mission To Zeitz⇓ (0.049 MB) Gene Goodrick Describes His Silver Star Mission⇓ (6.544 MB)
Photos of this Veteran signing the Wing Panel	Goodrick Signing⇗
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Goodrick, Gene Robert	Pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Harter, David Smuck⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Weiss, Warren Henry⇗	Navigator	CT
2nd Lt. Spears, Simms Memory⇗	Bombardier	CT
S/SGT. Adams, Harold Peter⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Clarke, Willis John⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	TR
SGT. Pierce, Lee Francis⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	CT
SGT. Clairday, Willard Lee⇗	Tail Gunner	CT
SGT. Stephens, Frank (NMI)⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT
SGT. Seibel, Joseph Austin⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
166⇗	28 July 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany	Pilot	42‑97263⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
167⇗	29 July 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany	Pilot	42‑38013⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
168⇗	31 July 1944	Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany	Pilot	42‑38013⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Group Hot Camera Ship. Sortie Report⇗
169⇗	1 August 1944	Target: Railroad Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Chartres, France	Pilot	42‑97948⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Group. Sortie Report⇗
170⇗	3 August 1944	Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France	Pilot	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit I Group. Sortie Report⇗
175⇗	8 August 1944	Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France	Pilot	42‑97204⇗	Combat Mission Credit High group hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗
176⇗	9 August 1944	Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Erding, Germany	Pilot	42‑38013⇗	Combat Mission Credit High section deputy, low group. Sortie Report⇗
177⇗	11 August 1944	Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France	Pilot	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
178⇗	12 August 1944	Target: "Landing Ground" Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: La Perthe, France	Pilot	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit High section lead, high group. Sortie Report⇗
183⇗	24 August 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany	Pilot	43‑37843⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
185⇗	26 August 1944	Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Pilot	42‑38013⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron deputy, lead group. Sortie Report⇗
187⇗	3 September 1944	Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany	Pilot	42‑37788⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
188⇗	5 September 1944	Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany	Pilot	42‑38013⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
189⇗	8 September 1944	Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany	Pilot	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit Hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗
190⇗	9 September 1944	Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany	Pilot	42‑38013⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
192⇗	11 September 1944	Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany	Pilot	43‑37990⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off 41A Group. Turned back due to #1 engine supercharger failure. Sortie Report⇗
193⇗	12 September 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia	Pilot	44‑6105⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
198⇗	25 September 1944	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany	Pilot	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
199⇗	26 September 1944	Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Osnabrück, Germany	Pilot	44‑6135⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead group hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗
201⇗	28 September 1944	Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Magdeburg, Germany	Pilot	44‑6135⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
202⇗	30 September 1944	Target: Handorf Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Münster, Germany	Pilot	43‑38542⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
204⇗	3 October 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany	Pilot	43‑38262⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
207⇗	7 October 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany	Pilot	44‑6105⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron. Sortie Report⇗
208⇗	9 October 1944	Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany	Pilot	44‑6149⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
209⇗	11 October 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany	Pilot	43‑38630⇗	Combat Mission Credit First Squadron. Sortie Report⇗
215⇗	25 October 1944	Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Pilot	43‑38757⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron. Sortie Report⇗
216⇗	30 October 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Pilot	42‑97960⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
217⇗	1 November 1944	Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Pilot	43‑38630⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
218⇗	2 November 1944	Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany	Pilot	42‑102501⇗	Combat Mission Credit Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑38542. Low Squadron. Sortie Report⇗
225⇗	11 November 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Pilot	44‑6592⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
226⇗	16 November 1944	Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions Type: Military Location: Eschweiler, Germany	Pilot	43‑38630⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead Squadron, 41st Bomb Wing D group. Landed away at Stratford, due to weather. Sortie Report⇗
230⇗	26 November 1944	Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: Altenbeken, Germany	Pilot	43‑38630⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
232⇗	29 November 1944	Target: Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Misburg, Germany	Pilot	44‑6592⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
233⇗	30 November 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Zeitz, Germany	Pilot	43‑38800⇗	Combat Mission Credit First Lt. Gene Goodrick awarded Silver Star, Owens p. 200; MACR 11111 covers crewmembers that departed aircraft. Sortie Report⇗
235⇗	4 December 1944	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Soest, Germany	Pilot	43‑38630⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
236⇗	6 December 1944	Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany	Pilot	43‑38630⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.