Buck, William Edward, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Buck, William Edward, Jr
⇗
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Serial Number O-23072
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #111 dated 5 October 1943, effective 5 October 1943.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool,70th Replacement Detachment, AAF Station 594, per Headquarters Detachment, 384th Bomb Group Morning Report dated 1 October 1944, effective 27 September 1944.
Duty Commander
Last Duty Date 27 September 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 19 November 1914
  • LTC William E. Buck had a distinguished record with the 92nd Bombardment Group before he was assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group in October 1943. Prior to his assignment to the 384th Bomb Group, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for Extraordinary Heroism on 10 September 1943.
  • ASN amended to O-23072 on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #113 dated 9 October 1943.
  • Detailed as Deputy Group Commander (Primary) of the 384th Bomb Group on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #114 dated 10 October 1943.
  • Per orders from HQ 1 Bomb Division making his assignment to the 384th BG permanent (vice DS), relieved from attachment to HQ Det 384th BG for rations and quarters and assigned to HQ Det, 384th BG. 384th effective 10 October 1943 on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #115, 11 October 1943.
  • Detailed as Group Air Executive (Primary) per paragraph 4, AAF Station 106 Special Orders #124 dated 21 October 1943. This paragraph was revoked per AAF Station 104 Special Orders #76 dated 23 April 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to 8th Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire (a Flak House) on or about 7 March 1944 per AAF Station106 Special Orders #43 dated 4 March 1944.
  • Detailed as Deputy Group Commander of the 384th Bomb Group (Primary) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #76 dated 23 April 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to 8th Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire (a Flak House) on 25 July 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders # 145 dated 23 July 1944.



Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 21 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Commander 42‑3527⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF aircraft loaned by 482nd BG at Alconbury, with crew (except as noted). Lead aircraft.
Sortie Report⇗
45⇗ 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Commander 42‑3491⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lt Col. Buck Flight Leader; aircraft and crew supplied by 482BG at Alconbury; aborted (landed at Alconbury); on approach to enemy coast lost #2 supercharger and pilot's oxygen system sprang a leak; signalled deputy lead to take over and turned back.
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Commander 42‑3492⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; aircraft, and remaining unidentified crew, supplied by 482BG at Alconbury. Lecates (P) was formerly a 384th pilot: he had transferred to the 482nd after completing a combat tour.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Commander 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Commander 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Commander 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Commander 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st Combat Bombardment Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Commander 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st Combat Wing A lead.
Sortie Report⇗
99⇗ 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France 		Commander 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Commander 42‑97574⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members provided by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
119⇗ 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland 		Commander 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Commander 42‑97699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Commander 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Commander 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Commander 42‑97699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members provided by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
147⇗ 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France 		Commander 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead, 41st A section. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Commander 42‑97699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Commander 42‑97574⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Commander 42‑97699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Commander 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Commander 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Commander 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st A Combat Wing lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗

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