| Name | Baird, James Joseph |
| Rank | Sergeant / Staff Sergeant |
| Serial Number | 15125628 |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72 dated 16 April 1944, effective 16 April 1944. |
| Duty | Flexible Gunner / Tail Gunner |
| MOS | 611 - Aerial Gunner |
| Last Duty Date | 8 September 1944 |
| Results | Transferred |
| Decorations | Awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 24 April 1944 per General Orders #66, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 3 May 1944.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extra achievement per General Orders #75, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 5 June 1944. |
| Citation For Higher Decoration | DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. JAMES J. BAIRD, 15125628, Staff Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For heroism while serving as a Waist Gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany, 24 April 1944. Sergeant Baird's aircraft was intercepted by an unusually large number of enemy fighter planes and engaged by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire over a long period of time. Early in this action Sergeant Baird was wounded. Despite pain Sergeant Baird remained at his gun position, repeatedly fighting off enemy attacks for a period of more than two hours. Much of this time his position was further complicated by the destruction of the oxygen system. Sergeant Ba1rd refused to leave his position until the safety of the formation had been assured on the return journey. His unusual courage, tenacity of purpose and devotion to duty has been an inspiration to this entire organization, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered military service from Ohio.
Source: HQ 1st Bomb Division General Orders #75, 5 June 1944
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| Additional Information |
|
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Hale, Charles Eugene⇗ | Pilot | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Grant, Walter Edward⇗ | Co-pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Swisher, Glenn Everett⇗ | Navigator | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Morris, Arthur Joseph⇗ | Bombardier | TBD |
| S/SGT. Richardson, William Earl⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | CT |
| S/SGT. Burlingame, James Wyatt⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | CT |
| SGT. Greene, Henry Tyler, Jr⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | CT |
| SGT. Asher, John Calvin⇗ | Tail Gunner | CT |
| SGT. Baird, James Joseph | Flexible Gunner | TR |
| SGT. Menchaca, Jose Ricardo⇗ | Flexible Gunner | CT |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94⇗ | 24 April 1944 |
Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑102449⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron deputy, lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 116⇗ | 27 May 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑97237⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 117⇗ | 28 May 1944 |
Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑37792⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 119⇗ | 29 May 1944 |
Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑97237⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 120⇗ | 30 May 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑97263⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Lead Group, original Wing Deputy. Turned back at 0948 hrs because #2 and #3 engines failed. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 |
Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France |
Tail Gunner | 44‑6080⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 131⇗ | 8 June 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France |
Tail Gunner | 42‑97237⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41C Wing, Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 132⇗ | 10 June 1944 |
Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France |
Tail Gunner | 42‑97263⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41A Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 133⇗ | 12 June 1944 |
Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France |
Tail Gunner | 44‑6128⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 134⇗ | 13 June 1944 |
Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France |
Tail Gunner | 44‑6135⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Landed away at Polebrook, AAF Station 110, on return, due to bad weather. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 |
Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France |
Tail Gunner | 44‑6128⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41D Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 153⇗ | 7 July 1944 |
Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑97237⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High group, 41st A wing. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 154⇗ | 8 July 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Renescure, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 44‑6080⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Wing deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 160⇗ | 18 July 1944 |
Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑97150⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 183⇗ | 24 August 1944 |
Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany |
Tail Gunner | 42‑38208⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High section deputy, high group. Sortie Report⇗ |