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Finch, Francis Nelson

Individual Personnel Data
Name Finch, Francis Nelson   
Rank Flight Officer
Serial Number T-121919   
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #81 dated 1 May 1944, effective 1 May 1944.
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #92 dated 17 May 1944, effective 17 May 1944.
Duty Co-pilot / Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 21 June 1944
Results Interned, Neutral Country
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 January 1920
  • Interned in Sweden.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 5995 (12.546 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Lane, Edward WilliamPilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Finch, Francis NelsonCo-pilotINT
2nd Lt. Lord, Kenneth Smith, "Smitty"NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Wiley, Ralph EdwardBombardierCT
S/SGT. Morlan, Emil Clayton, "Clayton"Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Keyser, Carl AlphusEngineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Miller, Harold ArthurBall Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Kobulik, Andrew (NMI), JrTail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Bemis, Forrest JamesFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Chanter, Robert WilliamFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
107 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Co-pilot 42‑97573 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
110 20 May 1944 Target: Orly Airport
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Co-pilot 42‑102402 Combat Mission Credit
Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
111 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Co-pilot 42‑102459 Group B Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
113 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Co-pilot 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑107221 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report
118 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑107057 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Co-pilot 42‑107221 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
123 2 June 1944 Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France
Co-pilot 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Pilot 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Pilot 42‑107224 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Pilot 42‑107224 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Low Group.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Pilot 42‑37785 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Turned back over England due to mechanical failures.
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Pilot 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
142 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑107221 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Low Group, High Squadron Lead. Landed in Sweden.
Sortie Report

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