Benson, Thomas Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Benson, Thomas Joseph   ‡
⇗
Rank Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 33353812   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #88 dated 3 September 1943, effective 3 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - 70th Reinforcement Depot, AAF Station Chorley, effective 14 May 1945.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 14 May 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Good Conduct Medal on 15 January 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 April 1921
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Wilson, William Monroe⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Smith, Harry Bailey⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Garrison, Keith M⇗NavigatorTBD
2nd Lt. Smith, Harvey Daniel⇗BombardierTR
T/SGT. Benson, Thomas JosephRadio Operator / GunnerCT
T/SGT. Treat, Royal DeWitt⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Loomis, Dorman George⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Pastorella, John Paul⇗Tail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Hubbard, Warren Emmett⇗Flexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Nichols, Melvin Allen⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 46 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Snetterton Heath Airfield, AAF Station 138, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑29927⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Radio Operator 41‑24525⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Little Staughton.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑30026⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Squadron of composite group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
36⇗ 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway 		Radio Operator 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑39784⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5838.
Sortie Report⇗
44⇗ 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Capt. Frink lead Squadron leader.
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Radio Operator 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group lead, 40th composite Combat Bomb Wing. After assembling with the wing presumed to be the correct one, the group leader received a call from the correct wing leader that he was ten miles to the left of his assigned wing. The group leader left his position and attempted to catch the assigned wing at Cromer. When the group arrived at that point there were no B-17 formations in sight, at which time he decided to abandon the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
87⇗ 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Radio Operator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Col. William L Travis, 41st Bomb Wing, aboard as combat flight leader.
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group lead. Co-pilot and navigator became violently ill.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
107⇗ 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland 		Radio Operator 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead, 40th CBW. Col. William L Travis, 41st Bomb Wing, aboard as combat flight leader and pilot.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Radio Operator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group A Lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
193⇗ 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia 		Radio Operator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st CBW A wing
Sortie Report⇗
201⇗ 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38542⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38542⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
227⇗ 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; low Squadron lead, 41st Bomb Wing C group.
Sortie Report⇗
231⇗ 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38800⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
236⇗ 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
247⇗ 31 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Neuss, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
252⇗ 7 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
259⇗ 22 January 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38647⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
265⇗ 9 February 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8665⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
270⇗ 21 February 1945 Target: Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8668⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
277⇗ 28 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hagen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
280⇗ 3 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
283⇗ 8 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant'
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Essen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
284⇗ 9 March 1945 Target: Henschel Tank and Locomotive Works
Type: Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
288⇗ 14 March 1945 Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead: PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
294⇗ 22 March 1945 Target: German Hutted Camps (Barracks) at 51°36'N,7°06'E
Type: Military
Location: Westerholt, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
301⇗ 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
304⇗ 5 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
Type: Military
Location: Ingolstadt, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
308⇗ 10 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area
Type: Military
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 44‑8649. Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
314⇗ 19 April 1945 Target: Railroad Station & Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Elsterwerda, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗

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