2024 MEMBERSHIP
 JOIN OR RENEW NOW
 MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

Lay, Obert Merle

Individual Personnel Data
Name Lay, Obert Merle
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 36729292
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #116 dated 19 June 1944, effective 19 June 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 23 December 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 24 January 1923
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #149 dated 27 July 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to American Red Cross Club, Keythorpe Hall, Station 566 (a Flak House) on 12 September 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #179 dated 8 September 1944.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-07-22-524 (1.244 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Neville, Harry WalterPilotCT
2nd Lt. McNamara, John GordonCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Hobdey, Cecil DelwinNavigatorTBD
2nd Lt. Denton, Horace BruceBombardierCT
S/SGT. Lay, Obert MerleRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. DeLauri, Angelo (NMI)Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Kania, Stanley JosephBall Turret GunnerTBD
CPL. Olson, Robert WoodrowTail GunnerCT
CPL. Harper, Jack RollinFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Gaston, David WilliamFlexible GunnerWIA

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
151 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Radio Operator 42‑97150 Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
154 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Radio Operator 42‑97150 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
155 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
156 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97150 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
157 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
159 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
160 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
-- 22 July 1944 None
Non-combat sortie
Radio Operator 42‑97201 Following a landing after a training flight, co-pilot mistakenly placed landing gear switch in the 'UP' position, causing the gear to collapse during rollout. No crew were injured.
Sortie Report
164 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report
165 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Radio Operator 42‑38013 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
166 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
167 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8011 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, high group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report
168 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑6149.
Sortie Report
170 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
I Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
171 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
175 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
Low section lead, high group.
Sortie Report
178 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
179 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Radio Operator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
180 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
High group 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
Radio Operator 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Radio Operator 42‑97960 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
187 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship. Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
198 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
B wing, high group lead.
Sortie Report
203 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy. PFF ship. Led wing after Major Bean aborted. Turned over lead to high Squadron at IP for Gee-H bombing. After the Gee-H equipment failed on the second run, resumed lead and dropped using PFF aiming.
Sortie Report
207 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
213 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Radio Operator 43‑38262 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Gee-H ship. Relinquished lead to deputy on bomb run after Gee-H equipment failed. Force-landed on continent with battle damage and low fuel; abandoned aircraft.
Sortie Report
227 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8008 Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; C group lead.
Sortie Report
229 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8008 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF ship; landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather.
Sortie Report
235 4 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Soest, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8211 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed away at Boxted due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
242 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8401 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Landed away at Horham due to weather.
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.