Metz, Charles John

Individual Personnel Data
Name Metz, Charles John   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 32361334   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #160 dated 5 December 1943, effective 5 December 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 29 March 1944 - transferred to Detachment of Patients, 303rd Station Hospital, Thrapston, effective 28 March 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 28 March 1944
Results Wounded In Action
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 11 November 1916
  • Seriously wounded on a mission, 3 March 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Heffley, Farris Ormond⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Carini, Louis Peter⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Betolatti, John (NMI)⇗BombardierEV
SGT. Shade, William James⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Deutsch, Samuel (NMI)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Metz, Charles JohnBall Turret GunnerWIA
SGT. Gatzman, Ralph Lee⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Alfter, Glen Edward⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Allen, George William⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 9 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29703⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous.
Sortie Report⇗
52⇗ 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37727⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑40005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3259⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group. Turned back at 0945 hrs because throttle linkage was broken on #1 and prop had to be feathered; generators on other engines out also.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29554⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Aborted at 1014 hrs because #2 and #4 superchargers were uncontrollable.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37793⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31235⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑29828. Flying spare; joined formation; aborted before reaching enemy coast because oil temperature on #2 engine was too high, and #2 and #4 engines had detonation (pinging).
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29809⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29828⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1137 hrs because ball turret oxygen system hose broke after catching under electrical conduit elbow; later, flexible filler hose got caught in turret gears and entire system went out.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron, Low 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 		Ball Turret 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31166⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ball Turret Gunner suffered frostbite to left hand.
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.