Striesfeld, Nathan (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Striesfeld, Nathan (NMI) ‡ ⇗
Rank	Technical Sergeant
Serial Number	32424264 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #129 dated 27 October 1943, effective 27 October 1943. Assigned to the 2023rd Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #24, effective 30 January 1945. Assigned to the 665th Air Materiel Squadron, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #82 EXTRACT dated 15 April 1945., effective 15 April 1945. Transferred to a non-384th unit, per Special Orders #78 EXTRACT, 40th Bomb Wing - 823rd Air Engineering Squadron, 447th Air Service Group, AAF Station 369, effective 24 September 1945.
Duty	Radio Operator / Gunner / Non-flying duty
MOS	757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date	24 September 1945
Results	Transferred
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 22 March 1916 Rescued after ditching on 26 November 1943 (MACR 1579). Ordered to spend four days at the American Red Cross Club, Southport (a 'Flak House'), on AAF Station 106 Special Orders 159 dated 3 December 1943. Attached to the 1140th Military Police Company (AVN) for rations, quarters and administration per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #114 dated 16 June 1944. Reclassified from MOS 757 to MOS 756 on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #149 dated 27 July 1944. Relieved from attachment to the 1140th Military Company for RQ&A per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #178 dated 28 August 1944. Transferred from the AC Branch to the CE Branch per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #24 dated 30 January 1945.
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 7 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
34⇗	3 November 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑5051⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
36⇗	16 November 1943	Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine Type: Industry Location: Knaben, Norway	Radio Operator	42‑5051⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
37⇗	26 November 1943	Target: City Center Type: Non-Military Location: Bremen, Germany	Radio Operator	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⇗
45⇗	22 December 1943	Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Osnabrück, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑29717⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
47⇗	30 December 1943	Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany	Radio Operator	41‑24560⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Composite Squadron; turned back at 1016 hrs because of oxygen failure in top turret; system dropped to zero and after it was recharged to 250 lbs it again dropped to 120 lbs in 15 mins; 18 M47A1s rtd Sortie Report⇗
48⇗	31 December 1943	Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship) Type: Transportation Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France	Radio Operator	42‑37727⇗	Combat Mission Credit Landed away at Alconbury; bombs returned. Sortie Report⇗
50⇗	5 January 1944	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Kiel, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑39784⇗	Combat Mission Credit Bomb load included 'Nickles' (propaganda leaflets) in addition to six 500-pound bombs. Sortie Report⇗
54⇗	21 January 1944	Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Preuseville, France	Radio Operator	42‑3429⇗	Combat Mission Credit 41A Group. Sortie Report⇗
56⇗	30 January 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany	Radio Operator	41‑24560⇗	Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off Low group high Squadron. Did not take off. Sortie Report⇗

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