Turlington, Howard Joe

Individual Personnel Data
Name Turlington, Howard Joe   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Master Sergeant
Serial Number 14073757   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 7 July 1944, effective 30 June 1944.
  • Transferred to the 12th RCD, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 15 July 1944., effective 13 July 1944.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS750 - Airplane Maintenance Technician, Airplane Crew Chief
Last Duty Date 16 September 1943
Results Evaded Capture
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 13 May 1919
  • Placed on Temporary Duty (R&R) for seven days on or about 28 August 1943 to The American Red Cross Club, Southport per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #83 dated 27 August 1943.
  • Per E&E Report #814 Joe evaded capture and returned to Allied Control on 25 June 1944. He was further reassigned to the 547th Bomb Squadron effective 30 June 1944 and placed on Temporary duty with Office of Director of Intelligence for 30 days per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 7 July 1944. He was transferred back to the USA on 13 July 1944.
  • Promoted to Master Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #133 dated 9 July 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 722⇓ (20.367 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 814⇓ (Filesize N/A)
My Experience⇓ (0.312 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Koch, William S, "Willie"⇗PilotTR
2nd Lt. Wollenweber, Herman, Jr⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Knowling, Edward Johnson⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Baggs, Joseph William⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Davis, Preston Allen⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Turlington, Howard JoeEngineer / Top Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Wolven, William David, "Bill"⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Martin, Burnia ((NMI)⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Ordaz, Armando Noriega⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Rogers, Marion Coleman⇗Flexible GunnerKIA

Crew History

The Koch Crew joined the 547th BS on 11 March 1943. Johnny Butler took over this crew when it was found that Koch needed additional training before being qualified for overseas combat duty. They were identified as Crew #19 on the Special Orders assigning them to the 384th, and became Crew #78 (547th BS, 8th crew).

This crew flew to England together (Captain Dillingham took Herman Wollenweber's place, and Wollenweber flew as Selden McMillin's copilot), and flew many missions together. Eventually, pressures of combat caused changes to the crew, a common occurrence during wartime.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bombed primary target on wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. Landed away at Hornchurch, Essex, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29768⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Difficulty controlling #4 engine and prop caused Butler to abort, after assembling his section.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29768⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by enemy aircraft; crashed near Rennes, France; MACR 722.
Sortie Report⇗

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