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Proto, Michael John

Individual Personnel Data
Name Proto, Michael John
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-718418
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 special Orders #157 dated 5 August 1944, effective 5 August 1944.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 28 March 1945
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Ordered on Temporary duty for seven days to Palace Hotel, Southport, AAF Station 524 (a Flak House) on 4 December 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #237 dated 2 December 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Mohler, John GrigsbyPilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Erickson, Stanley WallaceCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Proto, Michael JohnNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Griffin, Charles Edward, Jr, "SPIDER"BombardierCT
CPL. Markasky, Albert EdwardRadio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Girman, Frank (NMI)Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Johnson, Lester MendleTail GunnerCT
CPL. Pollak, Norman Marcus, "Dick"Tail GunnerCT
PVT. Kurlansky, Arthur MFlexible GunnerTR
SGT. Locke, Warren FranklinFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
181 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany
Navigator 42‑102601 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back due to a runaway prop on #4 engine.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Navigator 42‑102601 Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report
183 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑102601 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
185 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑102601 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
186 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Navigator 42‑107083 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102601.
Sortie Report
187 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑102601 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High Squadron
Sortie Report
188 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑102601 Combat Mission Credit
Did not attack target due to battle damage (wiring shot away) sustained during bomb run. Bomb load returned to base.
Sortie Report
193 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia
Navigator 42‑31222 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
194 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group hot camera ship. Aborted at 1014 hrs near the Rhine River with #1 engine out; attacked unidentified target of opportunity (TOO).
Sortie Report
195 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands
Navigator 42‑102620 Combat Mission Credit
E Squadron.
Sortie Report
199 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Navigator 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Low group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
202 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany
Navigator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
203 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
205 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
208 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Navigator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
209 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Navigator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
Fourth Squadron.
Sortie Report
211 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 42‑102501 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead Squadron
Sortie Report
212 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 43‑38548 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
213 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Navigator 42‑102500 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
214 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Navigator 42‑31484 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
215 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 44‑8430 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report
216 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 43‑38747 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
217 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Navigator 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Took over lead and led Squadron in Gee-H attack on primary.
Sortie Report
221 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany
Navigator 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy. Led Squadron on bomb run (two bomb runs).
Sortie Report
226 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany
Navigator 43‑38747 Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship; lead Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing A group.
Sortie Report
230 26 November 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenbeken, Germany
Navigator 42‑107121 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
231 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany
Navigator 43‑38616 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
233 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany
Navigator 43‑38616 Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
234 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany
Navigator 43‑38747 Combat Mission Credit
Division deputy.
Sortie Report
241 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany
Navigator 44‑8211 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea, Wales.
Sortie Report
242 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany
Navigator 42‑97986 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Landed away at Horham due to weather.
Sortie Report
243 24 December 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany
Navigator 42‑97986 Combat Mission Credit
13F Squadron Deputy. PFF ship.
Sortie Report
250 3 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium
Navigator 44‑8007 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. After taking interval at the IP, Gee-H equipment failed: therefore, the high Squadron did not attack.
Sortie Report
254 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany
Navigator 42‑97592 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF ship. Bombed secondary target on first run, PFF with visual assist.
Sortie Report

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