Van Natter, William Burton

Individual Personnel Data
Name Van Natter, William Burton
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 32668773
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72 dated 16 April 1944, effective 16 April 1944.
  • Transferred to the 12th RCD (Special Orders #207, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 28 July 1944, effective 28 July 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 28 July 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 13 December 1922
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station Special Orders #81 dated 1 May 1944.
  • Placed on seven Days Temporary Duty to American Red Cross Club, Southport, Lancashire (a Flak House) on 22 June 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #119 dated 22 June 1944.
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #133 dated 8 July 1944.
  • Completed tour and transferred to 12th RCD in July 1944 (squadron history, A0641-00231).
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Wortman, Marshall (NMI)⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Mulvehill, Edmund Whelan⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Shoolbred, Charles Ewen⇗NavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Leverette, James Harold⇗NavigatorCT
S/SGT. Van Natter, William BurtonRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Radtke, Hilbert Robert⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Irwin, Robert Tait⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Malone, George Martin⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Radde, Gerhardt Carl, "Gus"⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Simeone, Frank Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
100⇗ 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, composite high group, 94th CBW.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97263. Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
108⇗ 15 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
115⇗ 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
116⇗ 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
117⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
119⇗ 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0926 hrs because radio operator became ill.
Sortie Report⇗
122⇗ 2 June 1944 Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Radio Operator 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
M Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
132⇗ 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Polebrook, AAF Station 110, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97201⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
154⇗ 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97201⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
155⇗ 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑107064⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑107064⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
158⇗ 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron Hot Camera Ship. Crash-landed at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, on return due to battle damage.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Hot Camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.