Betolatti, John (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name Betolatti, John (NMI)   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-682568   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #160 dated 5 December 1943, effective 5 December 1943.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 13 April 1944
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 8 March 1944 per General Orders #52, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 16 March 1944.

Awarded the Bronze Star Medal per General Orders #313, HQ 1st Bomb Division dated 7 September 1944.
Citation For
Higher Decoration
JOHN BETOLATTI, O-682568, First Lieutenant, Air Corps, United States Army. For heroism displayed in connection with military operations against the enemy in the European Theatre of Operations from 13 April 1944 to 8 June 1944. Entered military service from Connecticut.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 1 February 1923
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Big Spring AAF, Big Spring, Texas, Class #43-08, 3 June 1943.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for five days to Bournemough, Hampshire (a Flak House) on or about 30 March 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #60 dated 29 March 1944.
  • 2LT Betalotti, after successfully evading capture, returned to the Group, was promoted to 1st Lt, and returned to the USA, all during July 1944. (545th BS History, July 1944, Microfilm A0640-01601 & 2)
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3868⇓ (11.787 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 709⇓ (Filesize N/A)
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 John⇗Ball 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 23 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
49⇗ 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37788⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑29809. Took off late, then turned back with engine trouble.
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 42‑29632⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Bombardier 42‑37727⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 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 		Bombardier 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron, Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Bombardier 42‑31166⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
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 		Bombardier 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31166⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ball Turret Gunner suffered frostbite to left hand.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37792⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing. This aircraft had blown the tire on the left main landing gear during takeoff. The crew jettisoned its bomb load in the English Channel and remained in the air near the base until fuel was nearly exhausted, then landed without further damage.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37789⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31166⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31740⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Bombardier 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31166⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31048⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
80⇗ 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
81⇗ 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37816.
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Dropped 25 parcels of G-34 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) along with demolition bombs.
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 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
89⇗ 13 April 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down during fighter attacks which lasted from 1354 to 1357 hrs; crashed Rambucourt, France. MACR 3868.
Sortie Report⇗

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