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 Felix⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. MacKenzie, Hugh Douglas⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Seals, Patton Briscoe⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. La Chine, Lloyd Earl⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Gordon, Clifford McDaniel⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Owen, Lorenzo Holland⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Puskas, John (NMI), Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerTBD
SGT. Fadda, John Stanley⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Benson, Olin Ray⇗Flexible 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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