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Purdy, Joseph Francis

Individual Personnel Data
Name Purdy, Joseph Francis   
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 32426103   
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #71 dated 15 August 1943, effective 15 August 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - transferred to Casual Pool, 12th RCD, AAF Station 591, effective 28 March 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 28 March 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 4 October 1919
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #86 dated 1 September 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Moulsford Manor near Chelsey, Berkshire (a FLAK House) on or about 15 January 1944 per AAF Station Special Orders # 9 dated 14 January 1944.




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Thompson, Siguard (NMI)PilotCT
2nd Lt. Ross, Burton RaymondCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Nilo, Anthony (NMI)NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Parmer, Warren EdwardBombardierCT
S/SGT. Purdy, Joseph FrancisRadio Operator / GunnerCT
T/SGT. Swineford, Homer HowardEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Olson, Harry HowardBall Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Dziura, Edward (NMI)Tail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Carter, Glen AlbertFlexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Stammel, Edward RaymondFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
18 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
19 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France
Radio Operator 42‑29554 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
20 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France
Radio Operator 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
21 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Deanland, East Sussex, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
22 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
23 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy
Sortie Report
24 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; unable to locate formation after passing through cloud layer.
Sortie Report
25 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Wing, Buckinghamshire.
Sortie Report
26 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
27 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5086 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead. Col. E Blair Garland, Hq 8th Air Force, flew on this aircraft to 'Test Blind Bombing Equipment.'
Sortie Report
29 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
33 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
-- 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Sortie Report
34 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑3218 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
37 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 41‑24557 Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report
39 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑37792 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; landed away at Woodbridge.
Sortie Report
40 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France
Radio Operator 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
41 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑3429 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group lead. Aborted when #2 supercharger ran away.
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Low group, high Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Radio Operator 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Maj. Ketelsen Flight Leader
Sortie Report
50 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report
60 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Radio Operator 42‑37974 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
61 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Lead. Landed away at RAF Hornchurch, Essex, on return due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38112 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
66 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑31926 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron, lead group.
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
Radio Operator 42‑38112 Combat Mission Credit
Low group, low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
71 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38112 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group deputy. Turned back at 1048 hrs over enemy territory because #1, #2, and #3 engines were smoking very badly after pulling excessive manifold pressure for 30 minutes; aircraft was vibrating very badly.
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38112 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron lead, high group, 40th Composite Combat Bomb Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report
77 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Radio Operator 42‑97477 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
79 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Radio Operator 42‑38112 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report

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