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Schmitzer, William James

Individual Personnel Data
Name Schmitzer, William James
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-757748
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #80, dated 29 April 1944, effective 29 April 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 17 October 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 10 February 1920
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Victorville AAF, Victorville, California, Class #43-15, 23 October 1943.
  • Granted a seven day sick leave of absence effective on 7 July 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #130 dated 6 July 1944.
  • Placed on seven (7) days Temporary Duty on 14 September 1944 at Enysham Hall, AAF Station 567 ( a Flak House) to carry out the orders of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #182 dated 14 September 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Halasz, John JuliusPilotCT
2nd Lt. Teehan, John Francis, "Whiskey Jack"Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Mayo, Roy Oscar, JrNavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Schmitzer, William JamesBombardierCT
S/SGT. McGill, Thomas Francis, JrRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Berg, Clifford GeorgeEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Swartzendruber, Carroll DuaneBall Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Monteith, Richard TaylorTail GunnerCT
SGT. Pang, Sun WahFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Ormsby, Roger StanleyFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 34 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37822 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at 1201 hrs; could not locate formation.
Sortie Report
110 20 May 1944 Target: Orly Airport
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Bombardier 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
111 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Bombardier 42‑37822 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group B. Turned back and landed at RAF Manston, Kent, due to failure of #2 engine.
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Navigator 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Navigator 42‑102959 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over base at 0600 hrs because both air speed indicators were out.
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Low Group.
Sortie Report
136 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Navigator 42‑97150 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Assumed Lead after designated lead aborted.
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Navigator 42‑102617 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group. Tail gunner, Sgt Erling Nielsen, suffered from the bends, forcing the crew to turn back.
Sortie Report
144 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
145 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Navigator 42‑97320 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
146 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
148 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report
149 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
151 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Navigator 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37974. Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
159 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Navigator 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
160 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
161 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
163 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Navigator 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
168 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
171 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Navigator 42‑107121 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
173 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany
Navigator 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Navigator 43‑38062 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
184 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany
Navigator 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
186 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Navigator 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑98000.
Sortie Report
187 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 43‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
189 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
On bomb run, #4 engine exhaust stack blew; jettisoned bombs before target.
Sortie Report
190 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
193 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia
Navigator 43‑38213 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to pilot illness.
Sortie Report
198 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
C wing, lead group.
Sortie Report
199 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Navigator 42‑98000 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
201 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37822.
Sortie Report
204 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Navigator 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
205 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 43‑38615 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
207 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Navigator 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Released bombs late.
Sortie Report
208 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report

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