Sylvia, Francis Robert

Individual Personnel Data
Name Sylvia, Francis Robert   ‡
⇗
Rank Private First Class / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 31289498   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #45 dated 8 July 1943, effective 8 July 1943.
Duty Flexible Gunner
Last Duty Date 14 October 1943
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 14 October 1943 per General Orders #77, Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe dated 10 October 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 October 1923
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #45 dated 8 July 1943.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #75 dated 20 August 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) The American Red Cross Club, Southport on or about 15 October 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #95 dated 13 September 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 842⇓ (3.690 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 2425⇓ (2.999 MB)
Account of 14 October 1943 Mission and its Aftermath⇓ (9.866 MB)
1LT Donald P. Ogilvie Crew, 547th BS (Legacy)⇗
Francis Robert Sylvia⇓ (filesize unknown)



Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, deputy flight leader. Led wing after flight leader aborted.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Bomb bay doors wouldn't open on bomb run; bombs dropped on target of opportunity 30 west of Gelsenkirchen.
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 41‑24416⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aircraft loaned by 303rd BG for today's mission.
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑5849⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Returned to station early after failure to draw more than 20 inches manifold pressure at 17,000 feet altitude.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Tail Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead..
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31059⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Knocked down by enemy aircraft; crashed near Soissons, France; MACR 842.
Sortie Report⇗

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