Bucher, James Frank

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Bucher, James Frank ‡ ⇗
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Serial Number	13067778 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #129 dated 27 October 1943, effective 27 October 1943.
Duty	Flexible Gunner
MOS	612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date	26 November 1943
Results	Missing In Action Final Resting Place or Memorial: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England: Tablets of the Missing
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 25 April 1916 Died of exposure following a ditching on 26 November 1943: his body was not recovered.
Related Documents	Missing Air Crew Report # 1579⇓ (30.215 MB) 'Valor: The Saga of Barrel House Bessie' in Air Force Magazine⇗
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Morrison, Donald Sylvester⇗	Pilot	CT
2nd Lt. DeMille, Robert Eversley⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Childs, Everett Lynn⇗	Navigator	EV
2nd Lt. Pitelka, Francis Jerome⇗	Bombardier	TR
T/SGT. Striesfeld, Nathan (NMI)⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	TR
T/SGT. Henry, Maurice Victor, "Red"⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	MIA
S/SGT. Engwer, Donald Leroy⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Schamber, Albert Martin⇗	Tail Gunner	KIA
S/SGT. Bucher, James Frank	Flexible Gunner	MIA
S/SGT. Burger, Joseph Earnest⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT

Crew History

The ten members of the Morrison Crew arrived at two different times: the officers arrived on 6 October 1943, and the enlisted men arrived on 27 October 1943. Evidence linking them together as a single crew was obtained from a photo taken during their stateside training (the photo does not include Schamber). Navigator Childs flew his first mission with another crew on 14 November 1943 and was shot down, thus not flying any missions with the Morrison Crew. The other members flew at least one mission each with Morrison, but it is clear that the crew identity was lost - at least on combat missions. Morrison, DeMille, Engwer, and Burger were transferred to the 305th BG on 20 March 1944, and all returned to the 384th in April 1944. Bucher (MIA), Henry (MIA), and Schamber (KIA) did not survive their tours; Childs was shot down but evaded capture.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 3 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
--⇗	30 October 1943	Target: Marshaling Yard Type: Transportation Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑3429⇗	Maj. Gilmore Sortie Report⇗
34⇗	3 November 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑5051⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
36⇗	16 November 1943	Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine Type: Industry Location: Knaben, Norway	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑5051⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
37⇗	26 November 1943	Target: City Center Type: Non-Military Location: Bremen, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑5051⇗	Combat Mission Credit Damaged by flak, ditched in the North Sea near the English coast, with most of the crew rescued; MACR 1579; T/Sgt. Maurice Henry awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Cross, Owens p.195; Maj. William Gilmore awarded Silver Star, Owens p. 198. Sortie Report⇗

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