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Fornear, Thomas Southern

Individual Personnel Data
Name Fornear, Thomas Southern   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-682099   ‡
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 Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 10 January 1945
Results Missing In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England: Tablets of the Missing
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 31 August 1917
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Midland AAF, Midland, Texas, Class #43-08, 3 June 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 6 March 1944 to American Red Cross Club, Southport (a Flak House) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #51 dated 17 March 1944. This Temporary Duty is dated 18 March 1944 vice 6 March 1944 in the unit Morning Report.
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant on 30 April 1944. Microfilm record A0640-01592
  • Volunteered for a second combat tour.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 11578⇓ (6.263 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Laboda, Joseph Stanley⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Bush, Sidney Lewis⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Crist, Vern Warren⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Fornear, Thomas SouthernBombardierMIA
S/SGT. Flynn, James Edward⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hardtmann, Arnold John⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Smart, Samuel Hayes, "Sammy"⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Nutt, Oliver Wayne⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Kalinsky, Morris (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Kerr, Robert Eugene⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Bombardier 42‑39784⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37727.
Sortie Report⇗
49⇗ 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Bombardier 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Group. Turned back at 1008 hrs
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
61⇗ 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron. Landed away at RAF Manston, Kent, on return due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ 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 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron, Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Bombardier 42‑37974⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31166⇗ 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 		Bombardier 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
This aircraft dropped 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) in addition to demolition bombs.
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31048⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37974⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1017 hrs because he was pulling excessive power settings, losing airspeed, stalled out at 115 MPH, and was unable to maintain position in formation.
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Assumed lead after target when lead aircraft was shot down.
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Bombardier 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Bombardier 42‑97573⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
102⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107125⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group deputy. Turned back at 0849 hrs because #3 prop governor was throwing oil and pressure dropped to 65 lbs.
Sortie Report⇗
104⇗ 9 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France 		Bombardier 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Wing, low group lead. Did not bomb because unable to see wing lead release bombs.
Sortie Report⇗
210⇗ 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8047⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship. Aborted due to failure of #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
215⇗ 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF ship. Since deputy's Gee-H equipment failed prior to IP, led the Squadron to attack the secondary using PFF.
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
223⇗ 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France 		Bombardier 43‑38747⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
254⇗ 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Left formation 20 minutes prior to the IP, apparently due to flak damage. No communication was received from this aircraft regarding the abort. Crash site and fate of crew are unknown. MACR 11578
Sortie Report⇗

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