Pluhar, Emil Edward

Individual Personnel Data
Name Pluhar, Emil Edward   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-552177   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #113 dated 15 June 1944, effective 15 June 1944.
Duty Pilot / Observer
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 10 January 1945
Results Missing In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England: Tablets of the Missing
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 16 July 1944 per General Orders #203, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 26 July 1944.
Promoted to First Lieutenant effective 28 July 1944 per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 8 August 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 4 December 1917
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 11578⇓ (6.263 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Pluhar, Emil EdwardPilotMIA
2nd Lt. Switzer, Ralph Vincent⇗Co-pilotWIA
2nd Lt. Machiz, Irving (NMI)⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Gogarty, Thomas Patrick⇗BombardierTR
S/SGT. Harbrecht, Robert Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Perry, Gilbert Franklin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Clary, Leonard Estus⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Frederickson, Ralph Louis⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Amspacher, Ray Richard⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Hall, Horace Homer⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 28 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
143⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bomb release malfunctioned; bombs were not dropped.
Sortie Report⇗
144⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France 		Co-pilot 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Pilot 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
147⇗ 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France 		Pilot 42‑102442⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st A section.
Sortie Report⇗
148⇗ 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France 		Pilot 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
150⇗ 4 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France 		Pilot 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group flying spare; joined formation. Due to a mechanical failure in the bomb bay, could not release bombs.
Sortie Report⇗
154⇗ 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France 		Pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
158⇗ 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Pilot 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
192⇗ 11 September 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany 		Pilot 43‑37713⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
212⇗ 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Observer 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Observer 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Observer 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
225⇗ 11 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Observer 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead PFF Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑8007. Lead Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
236⇗ 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
238⇗ 11 December 1944 Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead, B Group. PFF & Gee-H ship. Dropped bombs using PFF.
Sortie Report⇗
243⇗ 24 December 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group Lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
244⇗ 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. The Gee-H failed prior to the IP so a visual bomb run was attempted. The navigator and bombardier located the target too late to make a good run, so a second visual run was made and bombs were released on the primary target.
Sortie Report⇗
249⇗ 2 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. with Lt. Col William C Sipes of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing as Air Commander. PFF & Gee-H ship. Gee-H failed prior to IP; turned over lead to high Squadron. Did not attack target because bombardier noticed, approaching the bomb release point (high Squadron leading), that they were a mile to the left of the target. Bombs were held with the intention of making another run, but the remainder of the group had dropped on the high Squadron leader.
Sortie Report⇗
250⇗ 3 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium 		Observer 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
252⇗ 7 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany 		Observer 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
254⇗ 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany 		Observer 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Left formation 20 minutes prior to the IP, apparently due to flak damage. No communication was received from this aircraft regarding the abort. Crash site and fate of crew are unknown. MACR 11578
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.