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Welch, Gordon Michael

Individual Personnel Data
Name Welch, Gordon Michael
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-688223
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
  • Transferred to the 12th Replacement Control Depot, AAF Station Chorley, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report Dated 17 May 1944, effective 17 May 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 17 May 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Childress AAF, Childress, Texas, Class #43-11, 5 August 1943.
  • Granted a seven day leave of absence on or about 10 March 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #46 dated 9 March 1944.
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant (AUS) effective 6 May 1944 per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 17 May 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Outen, Charles LeviPilotCT
2nd Lt. Inman, Loren AlexanderCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Wood, Charles StoddartNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Welch, Gordon MichaelBombardierCT
S/SGT. Hitchcock, Carl EdwinRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
SGT. Bazhaw, Elbert LeeEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Threet, Elmer Ellwood, JrBall Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Wyman, Donald GeorgeFlexible GunnerCT
T/SGT. LaBelle, Joseph AdrianFlexible GunnerTR
SGT. Emmons, James VincentFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group, high Squadron deputy. Turned back ten minutes from target with bad supercharger on #2 engine.
Sortie Report
43 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37801 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Polebrook.
Sortie Report
45 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Bombardier 42‑29723 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Bombardier 42‑29688 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
48 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France
Bombardier 41‑24578 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
49 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because of an oxygen system failure.
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
53 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France
Bombardier 42‑3087 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group flying spare; turned back at Burnham due to #3 engine oil pressure dropping to 30 lbs and becoming erratic; cylinder head tempurature on #1 engine ran high with cowl flaps open.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Bombardier 42‑39962 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group. After losing the formation in clouds, continued mission with the 303rd BG.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bombardier 42‑29688 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
60 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Bombardier 42‑37801 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
61 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bombardier 42‑39991 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39809.
Sortie Report
63 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
64 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
65 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group. Landed away at Kimbolton, AAF Station 117, on return due to low fuel.
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
Bombardier 42‑3440 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1048 hrs because oil cooler broke and oil pressure dropped rapidly.
Sortie Report
70 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37788 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because #2 engine supercharger became uncontrollable.
Sortie Report
71 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑31871 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
73 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
78 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38112 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
79 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37788 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
80 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
82 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
83 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report
84 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France
Bombardier 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
86 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38158 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0955; could not locate formation due to bad 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
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
88 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
90 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
91 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany
Bombardier 42‑97367 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
92 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
93 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38158 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
103 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Bombardier 42‑107057 Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off
Low Squadron lead. Took off but landed right away because of a short circuit.
Sortie Report
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38013 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report

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