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Cates, Clay Franklin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Cates, Clay Franklin
Rank Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 37217423
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72, effective 16 April 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 4 January 1945
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 10 June 1918
  • Flew more than the required number of missions for a combat tour.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #86 dated 8 May 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (TD) to Southport, AAF Station 524 (a Flak house) on 27 October 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #211 dated 25 October 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Knapp, Paul BernardPilotCT
2nd Lt. Pulliam, Lyle JamesCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Colarusso, Alfred JamesNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Austin, Raymond Lee, JrBombardierCT
PVT. Stahl, Bruce WarrenRadio Operator / GunnerWIA
S/SGT. Jakway, James AllenEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Mason, Covert NathanBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Cleland, Deston Kenneth, "Duke"Tail GunnerCT
SGT. LaSalle, Angelo AloysiusFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Cates, Clay FranklinFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 50 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
41 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31274 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
44 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
47 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Briefed to fly in high Squadron of composite group, flew #7 of lead Squadron of 379th BG, landed away at Alconbury due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
49 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31346 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group. Dropped fifty parcels of nickles (propaganda pamphlets) plus 6x500 GP on target.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29703 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37848 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back at 1044 just off The Naze because #2 and #3 engines were smoking and the gas mixture was set too rich.
Sortie Report
61 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29703 Combat Mission Credit
High squadron. Landed away at RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex, on return due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29809 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
64 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37789 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1345 hrs due to runaway #2 supercharger.
Sortie Report
66 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, lead group.
Sortie Report
67 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37789 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
68 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37789 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
69 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37789 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1010 hrs when #2 supercharger ran away at altitude and could not be controlled until below 1,500'.
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37885 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because oil pressure dropped on #3 engine, requiring it to be feathered immediately.
Sortie Report
71 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31375 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37785 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1117 hrs because #3 supercharger ran away and could not be controlled.
Sortie Report
74 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31495 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
77 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
78 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
79 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
81 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
82 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
83 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report
85 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
87 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
92 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report
93 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
94 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
96 27 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
97 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102442 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
179 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6294 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
181 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑107125 Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy.
Sortie Report
185 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107125 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report
186 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship. Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
187 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8007 Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship. Wing lead.
Sortie Report
190 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107125 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
204 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8008 Combat Mission Credit
Deputy lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
207 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
208 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
209 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6109 Combat Mission Credit
Second Squadron.
Sortie Report
212 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
214 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
220 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6109 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
222 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37971 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
223 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38673 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
226 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97309 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 43‑37917. Landed away at Stratford, due to weather.
Sortie Report
227 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37971 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, 41st Bomb Wing D group.
Sortie Report
228 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38673 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
229 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38678 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather.
Sortie Report
234 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
235 4 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Soest, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
239 12 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8007 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
241 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38262 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea, Wales.
Sortie Report
242 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 43‑37917. Landed away at RAF Wethersfield, Essex, due to weather. Apparently ferried to Ridgewell prior to 24 December mission.
Sortie Report

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