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Collins, Donald Ivan

Individual Personnel Data
Name Collins, Donald Ivan   
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 39606925   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #126 dated 23 October 1943, effective 23 October 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 3 February 1944
Results Missing In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England: Tablets of the Missing
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 September 1917
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #158 dated 1 December 1943.
  • Fell out of the Ball turret over enemy territory, not wearing a parachute, on the 3 February 1944 mission to attack Wilhelmshaven, Germany. No MACR has been found, and the squadron history (microfilm A0641-01419) states 'little is known of the mishap.'
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Herbert, Joseph Robert, JrPilotCT
2nd Lt. Farthing, Frank (NMI)Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Meyer, Robert HermanNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Zebrowski, Joseph AnthonyBombardierCT
SGT. Carroll, Ralph GordonRadio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Boone, James Douglas, JrEngineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Collins, Donald IvanBall Turret GunnerMIA
SGT. Clark, Alfred AlbertTail GunnerCT
PVT. Buckley, Arthur JosephFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Narog, John (NMI)Flexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
36 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Ball Turret 42‑31058 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Ouston (now RA Albemarle Barracks), near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Sortie Report
37 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
38 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
40 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France
Ball Turret 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
41 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑3218 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
43 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39784 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Ball Turret 42‑31274 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
48 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France
Ball Turret 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex.
Sortie Report
50 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Ball Turret 41‑24560 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39784 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑29651 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑31495 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report

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