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LaSeur, William Veryle

Individual Personnel Data
Name LaSeur, William Veryle
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-670571
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #126 dated 23 October 1943, effective 23 October 1943.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 18 March 1944
Results Interned, Neutral Country
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 1920
  • Ditched, and entire crew rescued on 1 December 1943 mission to Solingen, Germany; no MACR.
  • Placed on one day Temporary Duty to Wharton, purpose to ferry aircraft to this station per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #12 dated 18 January 1944.
  • SSO #12 was amended from one day to three days per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #15 dated 22 January 1944.
  • Interned in Switzerland.
  • In 2013, the USAF formally changed his wartime status from Interned to Prisoner of War and authorized the award of the Prisoner of War Medal.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3485⇓ (1.373 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. LaSeur, William VerylePilotINT
2nd Lt. Lovvorn, Hollie Ray⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Kazmerski, John Thomas⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Fleenor, Charles Thurman, "Chuck"⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Schwarz, James Cornelius⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Wilson, Gerald Eugene⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Miller, Robert Lee⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Taylor, Homer William⇗Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. Fernandez, Severino Jean⇗Flexible GunnerEV
PVT. Leach, Kenneth (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerEV
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29768⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Squadron of composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑31073⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; #2 & #4 engines running rough.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑39796⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ditched off Portsmouth, entire crew rescued; no MACR.
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31073⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Aborted with #2 and #4 engines running rough.
Sortie Report⇗
44⇗ 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Capt. Frink lead Squadron leader.
Sortie Report⇗
45⇗ 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑29688⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Pilot 42‑5404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group high Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Low Group. Turned back because he lost the formation over enemy territory; jettisoned bombs over the North Sea (54°44'N,6°13'E)
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37801⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st A Combat Wing. Turned back at 1055 due to uncontrollable supercharger on #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Pilot 42‑37793⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over field; oxygen system was going out.
Sortie Report⇗
61⇗ 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑37801⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Flying Spare.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑37788⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1008 hrs; #2 supercharger ran away and could not be controlled.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑37788⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group. Turned back at 1053 hrs as #2 supercharger ran away.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Co-pilot 41‑24578⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Squadron, low group. Turned back because #2 supercharger ran away and engine began losing oil and smoking; could not be feathered.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑3441⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1046 hrs because #1 prop ran away (prop governor sheared). Landed away at RAF Gatwick, West Sussex.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑3441⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because #2 engine supercharger ran away.
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑38158⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑38158⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑38013.
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31871⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
At 1445 hrs called Group Leader saying he had two engines out and would try for home; had escort of four friendly fighters; force-landed at Dubendorf, Switzerland; MACR 3485. From 303rd BG: 'Secret equipment destroyed. Landed wheels down at Dubendorf. Wheels retracted after landing, but aircraft could not be burned because of Swiss interference. Target was bombed. Could not feather #1 engine out on bomb run. Half power obtained from engines Nos. 2 and 3 which were running rough.'
Sortie Report⇗

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