Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Name | Louden, Jack Elmer ‡ |
| Rank | Private / Sergeant |
| Serial Number | 32408882 ‡ |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #136 dated 5 November 1943, effective 5 November 1943. |
| Duty | Flexible Gunner / Tail Gunner |
| MOS | 757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF |
| Last Duty Date | 16 March 1944 |
| Results |
Prisoner Of War POW Camp: Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16 |
| Decorations | Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 21 February 1944 per General Orders #52, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 16 March 1944. |
| Additional Information |
|
| Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 3244⇓ (5.570 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Rich, John (NMI), Jr⇗ | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Wehry, George Ellsworth⇗ | Co-pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Indest, Joseph Albert⇗ | Navigator | KIA |
| 2nd Lt. Marvin, William Vern⇗ | Bombardier | KIA |
| SGT. Montagne, Henry Julien Louis⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Eklund, Howard Joseph⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Henken, Norman (NMI)⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
| PVT. Goddard, Kenneth Douglas⇗ | Tail Gunner | WIA |
| PVT. Louden, Jack Elmer | Flexible Gunner | POW |
| PVT. Mejia, Richard Carlton⇗ | Flexible Gunner | TR |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40⇗ | 5 December 1943 |
Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑37801⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 41⇗ | 11 December 1943 |
Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑5404⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 42⇗ | 13 December 1943 |
Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑29723⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 45⇗ | 22 December 1943 |
Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Osnabrück, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31045⇗ |
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Sortie Report⇗ |
| 48⇗ | 31 December 1943 |
Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship) Type: Transportation Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑37725⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Ditched. Eight crewmen bailed out in vicinity of Offham, Sussex Sortie Report⇗ |
| 52⇗ | 11 January 1944 |
Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑29723⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Flying spare; joined formation of the 305th BG. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 55⇗ | 29 January 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Parts Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31045⇗ |
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Low group Sortie Report⇗ |
| 56⇗ | 30 January 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑40005⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 57⇗ | 3 February 1944 |
Target: Submarines (under construction) Type: Submarine Facility Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑39991⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 |
Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31222⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High group, 41st A Combat Wing. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 63⇗ | 20 February 1944 |
Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑39809⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 64⇗ | 21 February 1944 |
Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Werl, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑37776⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron deputy, lead group. Landed away at Horham on return with wounded tail gunner. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 72⇗ | 6 March 1944 |
Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Berlin, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31740⇗ |
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 |
Tail Gunner | 42‑37848⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97510. After bombing target at 1325 hrs, lost altitude and flew just above undercast; continued in this way for 1.5 hrs and then was lost from sight; damaged by flak; crashed near Grivillers, France. MACR 3244 Sortie Report⇗ |