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Deftos, Minot Fred

Individual Personnel Data
Name Deftos, Minot Fred   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 11114343   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #136 dated 5 November 1943, effective 5 November 1943.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #8, effective 12 January 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 19 March 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 16 December 1923
  • First name amended to M I N O T on SO #140 dated 11 November 1943.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #154 dated 26 November 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3242⇓ (39.461 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Amundson, Leslie Otho⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Marcollo, William Theodore⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Faragasso, Frank (NMI)⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Coughlin, Robert Vincent⇗BombardierPOW
SGT. Deftos, Minot FredRadio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Howard, Murray Max⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Lord, Lawrence Frederick⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Brown, Cecil William⇗Tail GunnerPOW
PVT. Chairet, Frank (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Zesch, Charles Emil⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 11 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑5404⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at 0825 hrs because exhaust stack broke on #3 engine, which then had to be feathered.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑29554⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back at 1029 hrs because #4 supercharger ran away, there was no boost on #3 supercharger, and #3 engine detonated and was smoking.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Radio Operator 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Radio Operator 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group, low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1019 hrs because #2 engine vibrated and overheated and was throwing white and black smoke.
Sortie Report⇗
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Radio Operator 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Aircraft hit by flak immediately after bombs away; later observed spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft; four chutes emerged, with one on fire; crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, a very small village, near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France. MACR 3242
Sortie Report⇗

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