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Benson, Thomas Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Benson, Thomas Joseph   
Rank Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 33353812   
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #88 dated 3 September 1943, effective 3 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - 70th Reinforcement Depot, AAF Station Chorley, effective 14 May 1945.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 14 May 1945
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
DecorationsAwarded the Good Conduct Medal on 15 January 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 April 1921
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Wilson, William MonroePilotCT
2nd Lt. Smith, Harry BaileyCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Garrison, Keith MNavigatorTBD
2nd Lt. Smith, Harvey DanielBombardierTR
T/SGT. Benson, Thomas JosephRadio Operator / GunnerCT
T/SGT. Treat, Royal DeWittEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Loomis, Dorman GeorgeBall Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Pastorella, John PaulTail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Hubbard, Warren EmmettFlexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Nichols, Melvin AllenFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 46 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
26 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29927 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Snetterton Heath Airfield, AAF Station 138, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
27 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29927 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
28 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29927 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
31 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29927 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report
32 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Radio Operator 41‑24525 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Little Staughton.
Sortie Report
33 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29927 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
-- 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑30026 Sortie Report
34 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5838 Combat Mission Credit
Squadron of composite group lead.
Sortie Report
36 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Radio Operator 42‑3441 Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report
39 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑39784 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5838.
Sortie Report
44 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5838 Combat Mission Credit
Capt. Frink lead Squadron leader.
Sortie Report
53 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France
Radio Operator 42‑31211 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report
62 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
64 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
66 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group lead, 40th composite Combat Bomb Wing. After assembling with the wing presumed to be the correct one, the group leader received a call from the correct wing leader that he was ten miles to the left of his assigned wing. The group leader left his position and attempted to catch the assigned wing at Cromer. When the group arrived at that point there were no B-17 formations in sight, at which time he decided to abandon the mission.
Sortie Report
73 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
75 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
83 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
94 Group Lead.
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
Radio Operator 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
92 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Radio Operator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group Lead.
Sortie Report
95 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France
Radio Operator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Col. William L Travis, 41st Bomb Wing, aboard as combat flight leader.
Sortie Report
98 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38208 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group lead. Co-pilot and navigator became violently ill.
Sortie Report
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Group Lead.
Sortie Report
107 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Radio Operator 42‑31484 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead, 40th CBW. Col. William L Travis, 41st Bomb Wing, aboard as combat flight leader and pilot.
Sortie Report
111 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Radio Operator 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
Group A Lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
193 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia
Radio Operator 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st CBW A wing
Sortie Report
201 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany
Radio Operator 43‑38542 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
222 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Radio Operator 43‑38542 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
227 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; low Squadron lead, 41st Bomb Wing C group.
Sortie Report
231 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany
Radio Operator 43‑38800 Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
236 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8221 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
247 31 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Neuss, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
252 7 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8211 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
259 22 January 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade, Germany
Radio Operator 43‑38647 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
265 9 February 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8665 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report
270 21 February 1945 Target: Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8668 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report
277 28 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hagen, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8541 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
280 3 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report
283 8 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant'
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Essen, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
284 9 March 1945 Target: Henschel Tank and Locomotive Works
Type: Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
288 14 March 1945 Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead: PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
294 22 March 1945 Target: German Hutted Camps (Barracks) at 51°36'N,7°06'E
Type: Military
Location: Westerholt, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8541 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
301 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
304 5 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
Type: Military
Location: Ingolstadt, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8541 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
308 10 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area
Type: Military
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑98027 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 44‑8649. Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
314 19 April 1945 Target: Railroad Station & Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Elsterwerda, Germany
Radio Operator 44‑8649 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report

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