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 Combat Tour
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 Everett⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Duffy, John H⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Vernon, Sheldon Ira⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Ferazzi, Gabriel Ernest⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Corbett, Thomas Walter⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Birch, Frank AustinEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Overcash, Jimmy Lee, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Matthijetz, Carl Walter⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Corfield, Robert Milton⇗Flexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Cochran, Thomas Tidwell⇗Flexible 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.
FLIGHT TIME 4:30
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.
FLIGHT TIME 6:45
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.
FLIGHT TIME 7:30
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
FLIGHT TIME 6:00
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
FLIGHT TIME 7:30
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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