2024 MEMBERSHIP
 JOIN OR RENEW NOW
 MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

Shay, James William, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Shay, James William, Jr   
Rank Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 34665974   
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 Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 28 July 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 6 September 1919
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #103 dated 3 June 1944.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #106 dated 13 June 1944.




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. James, Robert HueyPilotCT
2nd Lt. Rochette, Harold IrvingCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Bronstein, David (NMI)NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Watson, Gavin (NMI), JrBombardierCT
SGT. Brown, Joe ErwinRadio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Shay, James William, JrEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Smith, Herman EugeneBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Penny, Olan AlfredTail GunnerTR
PVT. Cassidy, Michael JosephFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Sarver, Harold ThomasFlexible GunnerTR

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31435 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102617 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
107 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102617 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
108 15 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
111 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Group B Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
113 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
41A Group Flying Spare.
Sortie Report
115 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report
118 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
120 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
123 2 June 1944 Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
126 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
129 6 June 1944 Target: Highway Choke Point in City of Caen
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
130 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
131 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing, High Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
136 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑107224 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
140 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
145 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
146 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
147 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, 41st A section.
Sortie Report
151 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
152 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Blanc Pignon Ferme, Cléty, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97320 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with a feathered prop.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; returned to base.
Sortie Report
156 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
157 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
158 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
159 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.