| Name | Witherspoon, Elmer Stanley |
| Rank | Sergeant / Staff Sergeant |
| Serial Number | 15097548 |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #88 dated 11 May 1944, effective 11 May 1944. |
| Duty | Flexible Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner |
| MOS | 748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer |
| Last Duty Date | 5 September 1944 |
| Results | Completed Combat Tour |
| Additional Information |
|
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Vogt, Jean Deveau, "Gene"⇗ | Co-pilot | KIA |
| 2nd Lt. Sulser, James David, Jr⇗ | Navigator | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Eisenach, Ralph Eugene⇗ | Bombardier | POW |
| S/SGT. McClanahan, John Howard, Jr⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Holt, Alfred Irwin⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | EV |
| SGT. Larocca, Frank (NMI)⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Harris, Thomas James⇗ | Tail Gunner | KIA |
| S/SGT. Marshall, Sylvester Joseph⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Witherspoon, Elmer Stanley | Flexible Gunner | CT |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113⇗ | 23 May 1944 |
Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France |
Togglier | 42‑37982⇗ |
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed 41A Group Flying Spare. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 114⇗ | 24 May 1944 |
Target: Unidentified Military Installations Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany |
Togglier | 42‑97188⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 130⇗ | 7 June 1944 |
Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France |
Togglier | 42‑97188⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low 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 |
Togglier | 42‑97188⇗ |
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 |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑97320⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 135⇗ | 14 June 1944 |
Target: Coulommiers Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Coulommiers, France |
Togglier | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Wing, Low Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 137⇗ | 16 June 1944 |
Target: Athies Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Laon, France |
Togglier | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Group. Jettisoned bombs after target. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 138⇗ | 18 June 1944 |
Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles Type: Oil Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany |
Togglier | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 139⇗ | 19 June 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41A Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 140⇗ | 19 June 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Fleury & Crépy, France |
Togglier | 42‑31435⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41B Group, High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 141⇗ | 20 June 1944 |
Target: Oil Refineries Type: Oil Industry Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany |
Togglier | 44‑6141⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead Group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 143⇗ | 22 June 1944 |
Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Wizernes, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Flying spare; joined formation. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 144⇗ | 22 June 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Lille (Fives district), France |
Togglier | 42‑37982⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 145⇗ | 24 June 1944 |
Target: German Vacuum Oil Company Type: Oil Industry Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany |
Togglier | 42‑97282⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 148⇗ | 28 June 1944 |
Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France |
Togglier | 43‑37703⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Flying spare, high group, 41st B wing; joined formation. 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 |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 150⇗ | 4 July 1944 |
Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 151⇗ | 6 July 1944 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Coubronne, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑37822⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 161⇗ | 19 July 1944 |
Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑98000⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Lead group. Turned back due to low oxygen pressure. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 162⇗ | 20 July 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Plants Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany |
Ball Turret | 42‑107224⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Group Deputy, Hot Camera Ship. Led the Low Group after Lead ship was damaged and couldn't keep up. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 164⇗ | 24 July 1944 |
Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France |
Ball Turret | 42‑102959⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Wing deputy and hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 168⇗ | 31 July 1944 |
Target: Aero Engine Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Munich / München, Germany |
Ball Turret | 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 |
Ball Turret | 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 |
Ball Turret | 42‑102959⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead, high group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 174⇗ | 7 August 1944 |
Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dugny (Paris), France |
Ball Turret | 42‑37822⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 175⇗ | 8 August 1944 |
Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points Type: Military Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France |
Ball Turret | 44‑6109⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High section lead, high group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 176⇗ | 9 August 1944 |
Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Erding, Germany |
Ball Turret | 42‑97510⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead, low group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 177⇗ | 11 August 1944 |
Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements Type: Military Location: Brest, France |
Ball Turret | 42‑98000⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High section lead, high group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 178⇗ | 12 August 1944 |
Target: "Landing Ground" Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: La Perthe, France |
Ball Turret | 44‑6141⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead, lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 182⇗ | 18 August 1944 |
Target: Tactical: Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Vise, Belgium |
Ball Turret | 44‑6141⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead, lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 183⇗ | 24 August 1944 |
Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany |
Ball Turret | 44‑6141⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Returned Early Turned back due to flak damage prior to primary and bombed unknown target of opportunity (TOO). Landed away at Rackheath, AAF Station 145, with two engines out. Sortie Report⇗ |