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Gardner, Sam (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name Gardner, Sam (NMI)
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-734885
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #136 dated 5 November 1943, effective 5 November 1943.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 26 April 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 16 March 1944 per General Orders #53, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 22 March 1944.
Additional Information
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to 8th Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls (a Flak House) on or about 27 March 1944 per AF Station 106 Special Orders #57 dated 25 March 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Allison, Earl ThomasPilotKIA
2nd Lt. Small, Herbert WilliamCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Gardner, Sam (NMI)NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Nagel, Jack Cameron, "Big Foot"BombardierKIA
S/SGT. Laubenstein, William FrederickRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
SGT. Clements, William ArlieEngineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Kaufman, Vernon HermanBall Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Hougard, Kenneth NelsFlexible GunnerEV
SGT. Kouski, William LouisFlexible GunnerTR
SGT. Grimmett, James HaroldFlexible GunnerPOW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
36 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Navigator 42‑37785 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
37 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑37785 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
38 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑37792 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑37785 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group. Aborted with low oil pressure in #2 engine, and engine on fire. Jettisoned bombs in North Sea and landed away at Attlebridge.
Sortie Report
43 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31274 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Bombardier 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
48 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France
Navigator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
50 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Navigator 42‑37801 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Navigator 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Navigator 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Turned back after crossing enemy coast because #2 supercharger went out.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑29717 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back with 'supercharger trouble.'
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑37785 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
Navigator 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group.
Sortie Report
65 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Navigator 42‑3440 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group.
Sortie Report
66 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑37785 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
Navigator 42‑37785 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
68 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Navigator 42‑31346 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Navigator 42‑37789 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because #2 supercharger ran away.
Sortie Report
71 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Navigator 42‑31235 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Navigator 42‑31235 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high composite group, 41st Composite Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
73 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Navigator 42‑3490 Combat Mission Credit
PFF aircraft and unidentified crewmembers supplied by 482nd BG.
Sortie Report
74 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3440.
Sortie Report
75 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31364 Combat Mission Credit
Jettisoned bombs at 1130 hrs when aircraft was hit by bombs from Ledbetter aircraft 42‑37801 (MIA); bombs knocked out #2 engine and forced the jettisoning of bombs.
Sortie Report
76 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Navigator 42‑97523 Combat Mission Credit
41st Combat Bombardment Wing deputy. PFF ship and unidentified crewmembers loaned by 482nd BG.
Sortie Report
77 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Navigator 42‑37789 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
78 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑37885 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
81 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
82 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Navigator 42‑3429 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑31235 Combat Mission Credit
Joined 41st Composite Combat Wing A and bombed their primary target.
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
Navigator 42‑31235 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
88 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany
Navigator 42‑31346 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high composite group.
Sortie Report
90 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑31235 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
91 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany
Navigator 42‑31346 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report

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