Flower, Merlin Lee

Individual Personnel Data
Name Flower, Merlin Lee
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37529646
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #116 dated 19 June 1944, effective 19 June 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 22 November 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #122 dated 26 June 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #158 dated 6 August 1944.
  • Granted a seven day convalescent furlough effective 27 August 1944 per 544th Bomb squadron Morning Report dated 27 August 1944.




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Combs, William FelixPilotCT
2nd Lt. MacKenzie, Hugh DouglasCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Seals, Patton BriscoeNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. La Chine, Lloyd EarlBombardierCT
S/SGT. Gordon, Clifford McDanielRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Owen, Lorenzo HollandEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Puskas, John (NMI), JrBall Turret GunnerTBD
SGT. Fadda, John StanleyTail GunnerCT
SGT. Benson, Olin RayFlexible GunnerPOW
CPL. Flower, Merlin LeeFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 34 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
147 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
41st A section.
Sortie Report
148 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, high group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report
149 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Low group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; tacked on to the low group of the 41st B wing and bombed with them.
Sortie Report
154 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Ball Turret 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
Low group. Did not attack target due to mechanical failure and brought bombs back to base
Sortie Report
155 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
156 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
157 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
158 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report
159 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Ball Turret 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
160 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare aircraft, replaced 42‑107224.
Sortie Report
161 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group.
Sortie Report
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Ball Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
163 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, high group.
Sortie Report
166 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Ball Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, high group.
Sortie Report
167 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Ball Turret 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group 41st B wing.
Sortie Report
179 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
180 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
181 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
188 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38213 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
189 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38213 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
190 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
194 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
196 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron. Landed away at Old Buckenham, reason unknown.
Sortie Report
197 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38062 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
198 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
C Wing, lead group. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
199 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; 'too much oil, overflowed when heated.'
Sortie Report
200 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
201 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Left formation after target for unknown reasons, but returned to base.
Sortie Report
202 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
205 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97320 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back, reason unknown.
Sortie Report
206 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8211 Combat Mission Credit
D group lead.
Sortie Report
207 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑98000 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
208 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38016 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
210 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38016 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron deputy. Gee-H and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
226 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Stratford, due to weather.
Sortie Report

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