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Fitzsimmons, Willis Ray

Individual Personnel Data
Name Fitzsimmons, Willis Ray   
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-814281   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #39 dated 27 February 1944, effective 27 February 1944.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 13 April 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France: Plot G Row 9 Grave 29
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 16 July 1921
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3872 (36.923 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. McKinney, Jack NormanPilotINT
2nd Lt. White, Dana CalesCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Fitzsimmons, Willis RayNavigatorKIA
S/SGT. Coffman, Beryl (NMI)Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Patterson, Robert AEngineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Foster, Rayford LeoBall Turret GunnerTBD
SGT. Davis, Hubert MilesTail GunnerPOW
SGT. Friess, Earl HenryFlexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Dunn, Lawrence WarrenFlexible GunnerTBD

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 5 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
80 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany
Navigator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
81 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑97081 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
82 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Navigator 42‑97510 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1335 hrs over Molesworth because of smoke in bomb bay from unknown source. Landed away at Molesworth.
Sortie Report
84 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France
Navigator 42‑97142 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
85 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Navigator 42‑97510 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, due to weather.
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑97142 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1130 hrs; could not locate formation due to bad weather.
Sortie Report
88 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany
Navigator 42‑97231 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
89 13 April 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑97231 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by Me-109s near Coblenz at 1320 hrs; crashed near Reichenbach, Odenwald, Germany. MACR 3872
Sortie Report

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