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Wolf, Richard Vance

Individual Personnel Data
Name Wolf, Richard Vance
Rank Flight Officer / First Lieutenant
Serial Number T-251
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #14 dated 15 January 1943, effective 15 January 1943.
Duty Co-pilot / Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 7 February 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 20 June 1921
  • Appointed 2nd Lt. between 17 May and 6 June 1943 and assigned serial numbar O-519846.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days to the American Red Cross Club, Southport on or about 27 August 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #81 dated 25 August 1943.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
546th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Algar, Philip MorrisPilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Wolf, Richard VanceCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Celentano, Frank ANavigatorCT
2nd Lt. McClanahan, James CliftonBombardierTR
SGT. Gerow, Francis (NMI)Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Laviolette, Roland BernardEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. McKay, Kenneth Mitchel, JrBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Schimenek, John FrancisTail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Majewski, Casmer RobertFlexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Miller, Loring CorwinFlexible GunnerWIA

Crew History

The Algar Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 546th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 61" (crew #1 of the 546th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Wolf and Schimenick joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.
It would appear this crew remained intact during stateside training, and went into combat together, flying all missions until late July without changes. Thereafter, mission demands led to frequent substitutions, although many crew members continued flying together until the ends of their tours.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
2 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back after windshield motor burned out and cockpit filled with smoke, causing the pilot to lose contact with the formation.
Sortie Report
3 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
4 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
6 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
7 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
8 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
10 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
11 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Observer 42‑3259 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
14 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron #2 position.
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
Co-pilot 42‑3440 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
17 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑3455 Combat Mission Credit
S/Sgt. Loring Miller, right waist gunner, awarded Silver Star (As Briefed, p. 198).
Sortie Report
21 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at West Malling, Kent, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
22 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Co-pilot 42‑3440 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low sqaudron lead.
Sortie Report
23 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France
Co-pilot 42‑29935 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
25 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France
Tail Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead. Landed away at RAF Warmwell, Dorset, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
32 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Only plane to return to Grafton Underwood.
Sortie Report
34 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Pilot 42‑29935 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
35 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Pilot 42‑29935 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
38 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Pilot 42‑37776 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; engines #1 and #3 running rough, as well as radio, interphone, and heated suits problems.
Sortie Report
40 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France
Pilot 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
41 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Pilot 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Unable to locate the 384th formation, joined the 306th BG (40th Combat Wing).
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Pilot 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Pilot 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report
48 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France
Pilot 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth; bombs jettisoned.
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Pilot 42‑5444 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1025 hrs due to runaway supercharger on #3 engine.
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Pilot 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report
57 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Pilot 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Pilot 42‑38014 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report

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