Johnson, Lester Mendle

Individual Personnel Data
Name Johnson, Lester Mendle   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 39418127   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 special Orders #157 dated 5 August 1944, effective 5 August 1944.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 1 March 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 31 March 1924
  • Promoted to Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #168, dated 21 August 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #210 dated 23 October 1944.
  • Ordered on Temporary duty for seven days to Palace Hotel, Southport, AAF Station 524 (a Flak House) on 4 December 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #237 dated 2 December 1944.
  • Reclassified from MOS 611 to MOS 612 effective 3 February 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #37 dated 3 February 1945.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Mohler, John Grigsby⇗PilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Erickson, Stanley Wallace⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Proto, Michael John⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Griffin, Charles Edward, Jr, "SPIDER"⇗BombardierCT
CPL. Markasky, Albert Edward⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Girman, Frank (NMI)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Johnson, Lester MendleTail GunnerCT
CPL. Pollak, Norman Marcus, "Dick"⇗Tail GunnerCT
PVT. Kurlansky, Arthur M⇗Flexible GunnerTR
SGT. Locke, Warren Franklin⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102601⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back due to a runaway prop on #4 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Tail Gunner 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑107083⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102601.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102601⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High Squadron
Sortie Report⇗
188⇗ 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Did not attack target due to battle damage (wiring shot away) sustained during bomb run. Bomb load returned to base.
Sortie Report⇗
193⇗ 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia 		Tail Gunner 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group hot camera ship. Aborted at 1014 hrs near the Rhine River with #1 engine out; attacked unidentified target of opportunity (TOO).
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Tail Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
E Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
199⇗ 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97521⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Fourth Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
211⇗ 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102501⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead Squadron
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
214⇗ 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
215⇗ 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38747⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
217⇗ 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Took over lead and led Squadron in Gee-H attack on primary.
Sortie Report⇗
221⇗ 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy. Led Squadron on bomb run (two bomb runs).
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38747⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship; lead Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing A group.
Sortie Report⇗
230⇗ 26 November 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenbeken, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
231⇗ 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
234⇗ 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38747⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
241⇗ 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea, Wales.
Sortie Report⇗
242⇗ 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Landed away at Horham due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
243⇗ 24 December 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
13F Squadron Deputy. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
250⇗ 3 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium 		Tail Gunner 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. After taking interval at the IP, Gee-H equipment failed: therefore, the high Squadron did not attack.
Sortie Report⇗
254⇗ 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF ship. Bombed secondary target on first run, PFF with visual assist.
Sortie Report⇗
265⇗ 9 February 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy; PFF ship. Non-384th passenger on this aircraft is listed as 'FO [formation observer?] JOHNSTON, ARCHIE B., 1st Lt.' He is assumed to be from Wing HQ.
Sortie Report⇗

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