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Watson, Paul Leland

Individual Personnel Data
Name Watson, Paul Leland   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37676245   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #140 dated 17 July 1944, effective 17 July 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 16 November 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 21 July 1925
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #175 dated 1 September 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (TD) to Southport, AAF Station 524 (a Flak House) on 16 October 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #203 dated 14 October 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 10448⇓ (33.387 MB)
Accident Report # 44-09-27-510⇓ (2.530 MB)



Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hepler, Wilbur David, Jr⇗PilotTR
2nd Lt. Powell, Joseph Donald⇗Co-pilotTR
2nd Lt. Mason, James Robert, Jr⇗NavigatorTR
Flt. Ofcr. Reed, Ira Ottinger, Jr⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Way, James Leon⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hord, Jack O'Mahor⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Watson, Paul LelandBall Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Wishnak, Lawrence George⇗Tail GunnerTR
SGT. Daniel, Paul Fitzgerald⇗Flexible GunnerCT
CPL. Hofer, Arthur (NMI), Jr⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑6141.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship. 'Landed at coast for fuel' and arrived at base two hours late.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Ball Turret 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group. Originally assigned as the lead group flying spare, joined the high group after two aborts in that formation.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38213⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
192⇗ 11 September 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
196⇗ 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship; lead Squadron. Landed away at Old Buckenham, reason unknown.
Sortie Report⇗
197⇗ 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6141⇗ Taxi accident prior to takeoff, crew not injured; replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑37971.
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37971⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Replaced 44‑6141, which was damaged in a taxi accident prior to takeoff.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Dropped bombs early, reason unknown.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
206⇗ 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland 		Ball Turret 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
D group.
Sortie Report⇗
207⇗ 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Third Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
217⇗ 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6512⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Low Squadron
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Hot camera ship. Aircraft received a direct flak burst in #3 engine over target, setting it afire at 1205 hrs. Six chutes were observed, but one appeared to be on fire. The aircraft crash-landed at Tongres, Belgium, with injured pilot and tail-gunner, and dead co-pilot. MACR 10448
Sortie Report⇗

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