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Schimenek, John Francis

Individual Personnel Data
Name Schimenek, John Francis   
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 16022229   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Special Orders #13 of HQ Army Airbase Salt Lake City, Utah, dated 15 January 1943, effective 15 January 1943.
Duty Tail Gunner / Flexible Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 3 March 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 25 December 1916
  • Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, on SO #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance.
  • Appointed Staff Sergeant effective 15 June 1943 per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 18 June 1943.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days to the American Red Cross Club, Southport on or about 27 August 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #81 dated 25 August 1943.
Related Documents John Francis Schimenek WWII Diary (10.380 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
546th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Algar, Philip MorrisPilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Wolf, Richard VanceCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Celentano, Frank ANavigatorCT
2nd Lt. McClanahan, James CliftonBombardierTR
SGT. Gerow, Francis (NMI)Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Laviolette, Roland BernardEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. McKay, Kenneth Mitchel, JrBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Schimenek, John FrancisTail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Majewski, Casmer RobertFlexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Miller, Loring CorwinFlexible GunnerWIA

Crew History

The Algar Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 546th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 61" (crew #1 of the 546th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Wolf and Schimenick joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.
It would appear this crew remained intact during stateside training, and went into combat together, flying all missions until late July without changes. Thereafter, mission demands led to frequent substitutions, although many crew members continued flying together until the ends of their tours.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Tail Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
2 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back after windshield motor burned out and cockpit filled with smoke, causing the pilot to lose contact with the formation.
Sortie Report
3 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
4 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
6 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
7 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
8 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
10 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
11 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3259 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
13 30 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
14 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron #2 position.
Sortie Report
15 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3440 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
17 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3455 Combat Mission Credit
S/Sgt. Loring Miller, right waist gunner, awarded Silver Star (As Briefed, p. 198).
Sortie Report
21 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at West Malling, Kent, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
22 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3440 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low sqaudron lead.
Sortie Report
23 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29935 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
24 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire.
Sortie Report
25 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France
Ball Turret 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead. Landed away at RAF Warmwell, Dorset, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
28 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
32 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Only plane to return to Grafton Underwood.
Sortie Report
34 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
38 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Flight leader; plane lost two superchargers and slowed entire formation; the other two groups went ahead and left the 384th BG. This aircraft did not bomb due to bomb bay doors frozen shut. Landed away at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk.
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Composite group, low Squadron lead,
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37848 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group lead. Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous.
Sortie Report
52 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31211 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39991 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group Lead. Turned back at 1105 hrs because of failure of #2 engine.
Sortie Report
67 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39991 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Lead.
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39991 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report

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