Gardner, Vernon Dale

Individual Personnel Data
Name Gardner, Vernon Dale   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 17165578   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #38 dated 26 February 1944, effective 26 February 1944.
Duty Tail Gunner / Flexible Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 28 July 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completion of 30 combat missions.
Awarded the Air Medal for completion of five combat missions.
Awarded three oak leaf clusters to the Air Medal for completion of 10, 16 and 22 missions.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 30 August 1924
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 special Orders #61 dated 30 March 1944.
  • Also filled in as Tail Gunner.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 20 May 1944 to American Red Cross Club, Southport, Lancashire (a Flak house) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #93 dated 19 May 1944.
  • Attached to the 1140th Military Police Company for rations, quarters and administration per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #122 dated 26 June 1944.
  • Relieved from attachment to the 1140th Military Police Company for rations, quarters and administration per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #148 dated 26 July 1944.
  • Transferred out of the 546th on 28 July 1944 per squadron history (microfilm A0641-00100).
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Smith, Charles Grover⇗PilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Haning, John Milton⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Williams, Garven Foster⇗BombardierCT
SGT. Burton, Stanley Charles⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Rowe, Kenmore Edward⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Avilez, George (NMI), Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Gardner, Vernon DaleTail GunnerCT
SGT. Niday, Raymond (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Wise, Robert Francis⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑31211.
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, composite high group.
Sortie Report⇗
80⇗ 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
81⇗ 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Harrington, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, due to battle damage.
Sortie Report⇗
96⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
100⇗ 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
102⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
107⇗ 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high composite group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report⇗
122⇗ 2 June 1944 Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group, High Squadron Lead. Bombed Primary Target.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Ball Turret 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, #3 position. Led group after designated Group Lead (Stallings/June) aborted, and Deputy Lead (Thoma) was killed on the bomb run.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy. Assumed Lead when designated Squadron Leader aborted.
Sortie Report⇗

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