Schmitzer, William James

Individual Personnel Data
Name Schmitzer, William James
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-757748
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #80, dated 29 April 1944, effective 29 April 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 17 October 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 10 February 1920
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Victorville AAF, Victorville, California, Class #43-15, 23 October 1943.
  • Granted a seven day sick leave of absence effective on 7 July 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #130 dated 6 July 1944.
  • Placed on seven (7) days Temporary Duty on 14 September 1944 at Enysham Hall, AAF Station 567 ( a Flak House) to carry out the orders of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #182 dated 14 September 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Halasz, John Julius⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Teehan, John Francis, "Whiskey Jack"⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Mayo, Roy Oscar, Jr⇗NavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Schmitzer, William JamesBombardierCT
S/SGT. McGill, Thomas Francis, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Berg, Clifford George⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Swartzendruber, Carroll Duane⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Monteith, Richard Taylor⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Pang, Sun Wah⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Ormsby, Roger Stanley⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 34 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back at 1201 hrs; could not locate formation.
Sortie Report⇗
110⇗ 20 May 1944 Target: Orly Airport
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group B. Turned back and landed at RAF Manston, Kent, due to failure of #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
132⇗ 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France 		Navigator 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over base at 0600 hrs because both air speed indicators were out.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Navigator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Navigator 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Assumed Lead after designated lead aborted.
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Navigator 42‑102617⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group. Tail gunner, Sgt Erling Nielsen, suffered from the bends, forcing the crew to turn back.
Sortie Report⇗
144⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France 		Navigator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Navigator 42‑97320⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
148⇗ 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
151⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France 		Navigator 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37974. Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Navigator 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Navigator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Navigator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Navigator 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Navigator 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Navigator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Navigator 42‑102566⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑98000.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Navigator 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
189⇗ 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
On bomb run, #4 engine exhaust stack blew; jettisoned bombs before target.
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
193⇗ 12 September 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia 		Navigator 43‑38213⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to pilot illness.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C wing, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
199⇗ 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Navigator 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
201⇗ 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany 		Navigator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37822.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Navigator 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Navigator 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
207⇗ 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Navigator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Released bombs late.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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