384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Rafeld, Richard Eugene

Individual Personnel Data
Name Rafeld, Richard Eugene
⇗
Rank Flight Officer / Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-1995776
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #119 dated 22 June 1944, effective 22 June 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 28 October 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 31 October 1922
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Deming AAF, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Class #44-01, 15 January 1944.
  • Appointed Second Lieutenant, AUS per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #160 dated 10 August 1944.
  • Placed on approximately two (2) days Temporary Duty (TD) to London on or about 3 September 1944, purpose Public Relations Office (PRO) Activities per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #176 dated 3 September 1944.
  • Ordered to travel to Aylesfield House, Alton, Northants (A FLAK House) on 6 September 1944 to carry out the orders of the Commanding General for approximately seven (7) days per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #176 dated 3 September 1944.
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Patella, Joseph David⇗PilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Perchik, Simon (NMI)⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Norwitz, Gerson (NMI)⇗NavigatorCT
Flt. Ofcr. Rafeld, Richard EugeneBombardierCT
S/SGT. Hudson, Harold Edgar⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Stensby, Erling John⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. French, Lorin Leroy⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hammer, Loyd Lee⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Dvorak, Frank Joseph, Jr, "Whitey"⇗Flexible GunnerCT
PVT. Marshall, Charles (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Bombardier 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102959⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron deputy, high group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; returned to base.
Sortie Report⇗
154⇗ 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France 		Bombardier 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
155⇗ 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group. Landed away at Knettishall, AAF Station 136, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead. On the bomb run, hit by flak in #4 engine; had to jettison bomb load to stay in formation.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38016⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Bombardier 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Bombardier 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group. Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑37822, which was found to have a bad engine after takeoff. Returned to base and took off late, intercepting the formation at the English coast.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102933⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship. Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
188⇗ 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship. Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Tail Gunner 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
196⇗ 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st CBW C Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
206⇗ 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland 		Tail Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
D group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Third Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
210⇗ 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗

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