Van Riper, Charles (NMI), Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Van Riper, Charles (NMI), Jr   ‡
⇗
Rank Private / Sergeant
Serial Number 06151019   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #53, effective 20 July 1943.
Duty Tail Gunner
Last Duty Date 10 April 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Good Conduct Medal on 15 January 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 December 1919
  • Promoted to Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #54 dated 21 July 1943.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 27 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3429⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; unable to locate formation after passing through cloud layer.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 41‑24560⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to oxygen filler line to ball turret broken off and top turret filler line leaking, after having aborted 42‑5444 immediately after takeoff.
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5444⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Landed 5 minutes after takeoff. Replaced AC with 41-24560.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
36⇗ 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑39784⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑31274⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Tail Gunner 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex.
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Tail Gunner 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31495⇗ 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 		Tail Gunner 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Tail Gunner 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Tail Gunner 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Attlebridge on return due to technical failure.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31235⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑3440⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
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 		Tail Gunner 42‑29723⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31435⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, high group, 40th B Composite Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑37785⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
81⇗ 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Landed away at Kimbolton, due to weather.
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 		Tail Gunner 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗

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