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Birckhead, Robert Bruce

Individual Personnel Data
Name Birckhead, Robert Bruce   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-810804   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72 dated 16 April 1944, effective 16 April 1944.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 5 October 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia: Section 34, Grave 2239
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 18 August 1922
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 9754 (41.261 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Birckhead, Robert BrucePilotKIA
2nd Lt. Hailey, Millie Zo, JrCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Hedrick, Hilary HannNavigatorKIA
2nd Lt. Marks, Sanford (NMI), "Sandy"BombardierCT
S/SGT. Bridgeman, John Joseph, JrRadio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Lusk, Clarence LeonEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Brugman, Duane FrancisBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Fauser, Frank George, JrTail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Booth, George TottenFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Carboni, James (NMI), "Vin"Flexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
94 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
95 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France
Co-pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report
96 27 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Pilot 42‑97309 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
97 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Pilot 42‑97521 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
98 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37758.
Sortie Report
100 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑37758 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
102 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑97404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
107 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Pilot 42‑3441 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
113 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Pilot 42‑102442 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
41A Group Flying Spare.
Sortie Report
114 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑102442 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Pilot 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report
118 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Pilot 42‑37758 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy (original assignment). However, he became separated from the 384th formation. He joined the Low Squadron of the Lead Group (303rd BG) as #7; released bombs on target but didn't arm them due to a blown fuse.
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
120 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
124 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
126 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report
127 6 June 1944 Target: Rocket Gun Installation
Type: Military
Location: 'Meuvaines' (actually, 1.3 miles SE of Crépon), France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
130 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
131 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Pilot 42‑97941 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑32106.
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over Deenethorpe when #4 engine caught fire and could not be feathered.
Sortie Report
136 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Pilot 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
140 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
144 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France
Pilot 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
203 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Co-pilot 43‑37971 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
204 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Co-pilot 43‑37971 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
205 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Pilot 43‑38579 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Low Squadron. Shot down by FLAK.
Sortie Report

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