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Stockman, William Alexander

Individual Personnel Data
Name Stockman, William Alexander, "Bill"
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-709070
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 24 July 1944, effective 24 July 1944.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 28 December 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 31 July 1920
  • Stockman was replaced on this crew by Lyle Gronemeyer, an experienced navigator from the Edgar Bills Crew, and flew the final five missions of his combat tour with the Robert Owens Crew. After this change, Stockman was off operations for about one month: no information explaining this hiatus has been found. He recalled, in a 1992 memoir, that the change was apparently made to form a 'lead crew' from highly skilled crewmen, but with operational demands imposed by the Battle of the Bulge, his tour ended before they were able to serve in a lead capacity. This is somewhat supported by the history of the Owens Crew, which was off operations for exactly the same period.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (TD) to Roke Manor, AAF Station 503 (a Flak house) on 14 November 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #223 dated 12 November 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Sienkiewicz, Edward Alfred, "Sink"PilotCT
2nd Lt. Frederick, Edwin Bernard, "Ed"Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Stockman, William Alexander, "Bill"NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Zanin, Anthony John, "Tony"BombardierTR
S/SGT. Crowell, Hollis HenryRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Ballenger, John SidneyEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Storm, DelbertBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Wilson, August Frederick, "Fred"Tail GunnerTR
SGT. Foster, Garnet Eugene, "Gene"Flexible GunnerCT
PVT. Orth, Alvin WilsonFlexible GunnerCT

Crew History

The Ed Sienkiewicz Crew was formed at MacDill Field in Tampa Florida in February, 1944. Initially, the crew pilot was Robert Miller, but he was replaced by Sienkiewicz at MacDill. In training, they were known as 'Crew 115,' a name which they continued to use for themselves, even long after the war!

After crew training, they picked up a new B-17G at Hunter Field, Georgia, and departed for England on 29 June 1944. With stops at Grenier Field (Manchester, New Hampshire), Dow Field (Bangor, Maine), Gander Field (Gander, Newfoundland, Canada), they arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 3 July. They then traveled by boat and train to Stone, England, to await their combat assignment. They were then sent to the 384th BG on 24 July, where they were assigned to the 547th BS.

After the pilot Sienkiewicz flew a familiarization mission as copilot of an experienced crew on 3 August 1944, the entire crew flew its first combat mission together on 4 August. However, as with most crews in this theater, it did not remain together long. First, Zanin (bombardier) was ordered to return to the US for reassignment. Next, Wilson (tail gunner) was removed from flight status for medical reasons on 5 September. The crew was sent to a 'flak house' during 14-21 November, officers to Roke Manor (AAF Station 503), and EM to Ebrington Manor (AAF Station 498). Shortly thereafter, Stockman (navigator), was transferred to the Robert Owens Crew after his 30th mission. The remaining crewmembers flew most of their missions together, completing their combat tours in January 1945.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
172 4 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Navigator 42‑38013 Combat Mission Credit
This aircraft carried delayed-action bombs which were jettisoned in the Channel. Landed away at Kimbolton, reasons unknown.
Sortie Report
173 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany
Navigator 42‑97150 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
174 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France
Navigator 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
178 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, high group.
Sortie Report
179 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Navigator 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Low group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Navigator 44‑6109 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
183 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Navigator 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
188 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Plane returned early due to personnel failure: tail gunner became ill.
Sortie Report
189 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
190 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑107121 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑39888 which was apparently given up to the Plowman Crew. High group flying spare; joined formation. One bomb returned.
Sortie Report
192 11 September 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑38013 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
196 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Navigator 44‑6135 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report
197 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group
Sortie Report
198 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 43‑37843 Combat Mission Credit
C wing, low group. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
199 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Navigator 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
200 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
202 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany
Navigator 44‑6149 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
203 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 43‑38262 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
205 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
206 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland
Navigator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
D group. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
207 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Navigator 42‑97263 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
212 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
213 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 43‑38757 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
214 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Navigator 42‑97510 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
215 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
216 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
217 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑97150 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
220 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑38208.
Sortie Report
221 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
222 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Navigator 44‑6514 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron flying spare. Aborted with #2 supercharger failure.
Sortie Report
228 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, B group.
Sortie Report
229 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Navigator 44‑6514 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather.
Sortie Report
231 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany
Navigator 44‑6514 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
240 18 December 1944 Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany
Navigator 44‑6592 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
241 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany
Navigator 44‑6105 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation. Landed away at RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea, Wales.
Sortie Report
243 24 December 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany
Navigator 43‑38630 Combat Mission Credit
41C Group.
Sortie Report
244 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany
Navigator 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑6514. High Squadron.
Sortie Report
245 28 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brühl, Germany
Navigator 43‑38800 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report

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