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Birch, Frank Austin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Birch, Frank Austin   
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 18167470   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 12 May 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
DecorationsAwarded the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters for completion of 20 combat missions.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completion of 25 combat missions per General Orders #297, Headquarters 8th Air Force dated 21 April 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 28 April 1920
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #19 dated 27 January 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Foster, James EverettPilotKIA
2nd Lt. Duffy, John HCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Vernon, Sheldon IraNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Ferazzi, Gabriel ErnestBombardierCT
S/SGT. Corbett, Thomas WalterRadio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Birch, Frank AustinEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Overcash, Jimmy Lee, JrBall Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Matthijetz, Carl WalterTail GunnerCT
SGT. Corfield, Robert MiltonFlexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Cochran, Thomas TidwellFlexible GunnerKIA

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31274 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
53 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37848 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead group
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3087 Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back at 1108 hrs over The Netherlands "because #2 supercharger surged and ran away ... was uncontrollable."
Sortie Report
59 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39962 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
60 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
61 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
64 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Released 25 parcels of G-27 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) and six 500-pound general-purpose bombs on the target.
Sortie Report
65 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group.
Sortie Report
66 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, lead group.
Sortie Report
67 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31235 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
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
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because of severe vibration in #3 engine.
Sortie Report
71 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31495 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888. Turned back at 1018 hrs because #2 & #3 engines were running rough, were smoking and detonating; tach and manifold pressure oscillated.
Sortie Report
72 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31495 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, high composite group, 41st Composite Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
74 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
75 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
78 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
79 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Dropped 25 parcels of G-31 'Nickles' (propaganda leaflets), in addition to bombs.
Sortie Report
80 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined the lead group.
Sortie Report
81 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
82 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31495 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
83 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
94 Group. Turned back over Kettering at 1210 hrs because #3 prop ran away.
Sortie Report
85 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3440 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
87 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
90 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
91 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Landed to correct loose gas cap problem, then took off and joined formation.
Sortie Report
92 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31435 Combat Mission Credit
B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report
94 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3441 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888. Sustained 20mm cannon damage.
Sortie Report
95 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
97 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97251 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
99 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97404 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
100 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report

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