Potempa, Walter (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Potempa, Walter (NMI) ‡ ⇗
Rank	Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number	35567589 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #38 dated 26 February 1944, effective 26 February 1944.
Duty	Tail Gunner
MOS	612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date	31 May 1944
Results	Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 26 September 1919 Walter Potempa flew 25 combat missions with the 15th Air Force prior to being assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group. He was credited with a combined total of 25 combat missions. Promoted to technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #102 dated 1 June 1944.
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Yokie, John Olivi⇗	Pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Plunkett, Meredith Watson, Jr⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Donehoo, William Montgomery⇗	Navigator	CT
2nd Lt. Miller, John Franklin⇗	Bombardier	CT
T/SGT. Patterson, James Redmond⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	CT
T/SGT. Graham, John Mebane⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Wearne, Walter Eugene⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	POW
S/SGT. Potempa, Walter (NMI)	Tail Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Matican, Sigmund Sidney⇗	Flexible Gunner	KIA
SGT. Philpott, Thomas Edward⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
74⇗	9 March 1944	Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑37982⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
75⇗	16 March 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑31346⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
76⇗	18 March 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑39888⇗	Combat Mission Credit Returned Early Lead Squadron, high composite group. Turned back at 1246 hrs, deep in enemy territory, because #3 supercharger went out and aircraft could not maintain position in the formation. Sortie Report⇗
77⇗	19 March 1944	Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Wizernes, France	Tail Gunner	42‑97150⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
78⇗	20 March 1944	Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑3440⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
79⇗	22 March 1944	Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oranienburg, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑37885⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
83⇗	27 March 1944	Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Tours & Chartres, France	Tail Gunner	42‑3429⇗	Combat Mission Credit 94 Group, Flying Spare. Joined formation. Sortie Report⇗
85⇗	29 March 1944	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑37785⇗	Combat Mission Credit Landed away at Polebrook, due to weather. Sortie Report⇗
94⇗	24 April 1944	Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑31495⇗	Combat Mission Credit Landed with wounded crewmen aboard. Sortie Report⇗
95⇗	25 April 1944	Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Metz, France	Tail Gunner	42‑37982⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead. Sortie Report⇗
96⇗	27 April 1944	Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Sottevast, France	Tail Gunner	42‑3440⇗	Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Sortie Report⇗
97⇗	27 April 1944	Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France	Tail Gunner	42‑107083⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
99⇗	1 May 1944	Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France	Tail Gunner	42‑37785⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗

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