Harden, Donald Lester

Individual Personnel Data
Name Harden, Donald Lester   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 39087900   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 544th Bomb Squadron Unit History, effective 31 December 1942.
Duty Flexible Gunner
Last Duty Date 14 June 1943
Results Transferred
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 31 December 1919
  • Ditched in Atlantic on flight From Gander, Newfoundland, to England on 10 June 1943. The crew was rescued by a Canadian minesweeper, put ashore at Lewisport, Newfoundland, and made their way to Gander by train. Harden was examined at the 310th Station Hospital, Gander Army Air Base, and found to be 'not physically fit for duties involving flying' on 14 June 1943. His further service with the 384th is uncertain. Therefore, his 'Last Duty Date' and 'Results' has been inferred from the records at hand. He was discharged from the Army on 16 November 1943 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant effective 1 February 1943 per 544th Bomb Squadron February 1943 Payroll Roster.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
544th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hall, Kelmer Jim⇗PilotPOW
Flt. Ofcr. Summers, Bradley Briscoe⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Crary, James David⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Schindler, Herbert (NMI)⇗BombardierPOW
SGT. Harland, Kenneth Watkins, Jr⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
PVT. Spradlin, Clifford Wright⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Veber, Max Burton⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. O'Donnell, Charles Patrick, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Wimberly, Grady Wright⇗Flexible GunnerTR
SGT. Harden, Donald LesterFlexible GunnerTR

Crew History

The Kelmer Hall Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 544th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 41" (crew #1 of the 544th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Summers and Spradlin joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.

Original crewmembers O'Donnell and Wimberly were replaced by Holgate J Dean and Edward R Keathley prior to transfer overseas.

The crew was assigned B-17F 42-30041 in the U.S.A. This aircraft was beset by mechanical difficulties from the outset, causing many three-engine landings, among other problems. After departing Gander Lake, Newfoundland on June 9, 1943 bound for England, the crew was forced to ditch that aircraft in the Atlantic. All 10 men were rescued the next day and returned to their departure point Gander Lake, Newfoundland. From there they were flown back to Presque Isle, Maine, where they were fitted out with new uniforms and other necessary equipment. Again they took to the air - as passengers aboard a C-54 transport aircraft this time - and rejoined the Group in England on 6 July 1943.

Additional crew changes occured after arriving in England, with Lawrence J Reandeau and George D McCulley replacing Spradlin and Harden. Note that other crew changes occurred on their first two missions due to illness of "regular" crew members.

They were shot down on 25 July 1943 mission to Hamburg, Germany, aboard B-17F 42-29670 "THUNDERMUG": 2 KIA, 8 POW.

Information courtesy of Jared Summers, et al.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 0 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
-- 10 June 1943 None
Non-combat sortie 		Flexible (Waist) Gunner 42‑30041⇗ On ferry flight to the ETO, departed Gander late on 9 June 1943. Engine failures led to ditching in the ocean off the coast of Labrador.
Sortie Report⇗

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