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Sylvia, Joseph Herbert

Individual Personnel Data
Name Sylvia, Joseph Herbert   
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 11130129   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 30 January 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: 17 October 1923
  • Placed on one day Temporary Duty to Wharton, purpose to ferry aircraft to this station per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #12 dated 18 January 1944.
  • SSO #12 was amended from one day to three days per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #15 dated 22 January 1944.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #14 Dated 21 January 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 14416 (13.023 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Fioretti, Edward AnthonyPilotPOW
2nd Lt. Briley, Scott AndrewCo-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Merlo, Samuel JosephNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Griffith, Leonard RaymondBombardierPOW
S/SGT. Sylvia, Joseph HerbertRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Stuhl, Walter EdwardEngineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. House, Horace Doster, JrBall Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Day, Huley NewtonTail GunnerPOW
SGT. Wolfe, Clark Benjamin, JrFlexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Wallo, Andrew (NMI)Flexible GunnerPOW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 7 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29828 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
43 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29828 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1207 hrs over the North Sea (54°45'N,4°20'E) when #4 engine fuel pressure went out.
Sortie Report
44 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29828 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
47 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29809 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
50 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31246 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29809 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous. Bomb load included 'nickles' - propaganda leaflets.
Sortie Report
52 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29809 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑29809 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31415 Combat Mission Credit
Low group. Turned back at the IP and jettisoned bombs at some point because ship was on fire due to enemy aircraft. All of the enlisted men except top turret gunner bailed out at the IP, due to a misunderstanding between the radio operator and bombardier after ship caught fire; crash-landed at base. 1st Lt. Edward Fioretti, pilot, and 2nd Lt. Scott Briley, co-pilot, both awarded Silver Stars, Owens p. 199. Aircraft salvaged.
Sortie Report

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