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Witherspoon, Elmer Stanley

Individual Personnel Data
Name Witherspoon, Elmer Stanley
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 15097548
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #88 dated 11 May 1944, effective 11 May 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 5 September 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 19 April 1920
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #115 dated 18 June 1944.
  • Transferred in grade to the Casual Pool, 8th AFRD, AAF Station 594 on 5 September 1944 per Squadron Morning Report.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Vogt, Jean Deveau, "Gene"Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Sulser, James David, JrNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Eisenach, Ralph EugeneBombardierPOW
S/SGT. McClanahan, John Howard, JrRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
SGT. Holt, Alfred IrwinEngineer / Top Turret GunnerEV
SGT. Larocca, Frank (NMI)Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Harris, Thomas JamesTail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Marshall, Sylvester JosephFlexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Witherspoon, Elmer StanleyFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
113 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Togglier 42‑37982 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
41A Group Flying Spare.
Sortie Report
114 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Togglier 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
130 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Togglier 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
131 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Togglier 42‑97188 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
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Togglier 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Low Group.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Togglier 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
High Group. Jettisoned bombs after target.
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Togglier 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
140 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Togglier 42‑31435 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
141 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Togglier 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
143 22 June 1944 Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
144 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France
Togglier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
145 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Togglier 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
148 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France
Togglier 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare, high group, 41st B wing; joined formation. 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
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
150 4 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
151 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
161 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑98000 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back due to low oxygen pressure.
Sortie Report
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑107224 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Deputy, Hot Camera Ship. Led the Low Group after Lead ship was damaged and couldn't keep up.
Sortie Report
164 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France
Ball Turret 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
168 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Ball Turret 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
Ball Turret 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
Ball Turret 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
174 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France
Ball Turret 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
175 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France
Ball Turret 44‑6109 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report
176 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97510 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
177 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France
Ball Turret 42‑98000 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report
178 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Ball Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Ball Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
183 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Ball Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Turned back due to flak damage prior to primary and bombed unknown target of opportunity (TOO). Landed away at Rackheath, AAF Station 145, with two engines out.
Sortie Report

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