Kalas, Joseph Markus

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kalas, Joseph Markus   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 33361307   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
Last Duty Date 23 September 1943
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 14 July 1943 per General Orders #82, Headquarters 1st Bomb Wing dated 1 August 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 11 December 1920
  • Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, on SO #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 748⇓ (24.645 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 337⇓ (Filesize N/A)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Bishop, Charles W, "CHICK"⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Ulrey, Edgar Ellsworth⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Grimaldi, Anthony Joseph⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Yee, Wilbert Y K⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Morton, Cecil Gordon⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Edman, Bruno Edwin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Kalas, Joseph MarkusBall Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Parks, Howard David⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Kelly, Leonard Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerEV
S/SGT. Yeater, James Thomas⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Ball Turret 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5838. Frink had taken off in 838, detected a short circuit that made the aircraft unusable for combat, and landed. It took him 20 minutes from landing to taking off again!
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30030⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron Deputy. Turned back at 1435 hrs at Splasher 5 because prop on #2 engine ran away.
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29700⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #2 engine supercharger trouble.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
13⇗ 30 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back 62 miles into Belgium because hydraulic fluid was coming down into the ball turret, which was inoperative, the left waist gun and left top turret gun were out of order, and the tachometer on one engine was oscillating wildly.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30039⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29914⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Ball Turret 41‑24507⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #1 engine very rough and #3 engine oil pressure dropped 40 lbs.
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed at Grafton Underwood.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Ball Turret 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3459⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; unable to locate formation after passing through cloud layer.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Shot down by enemy aircraft shortly after crossing the coast of France, crashed near Pontivy, France; MACR 748. Co-pilot Ritt was pilot of a newly assigned crew, flying his first orientation mission.
Sortie Report⇗

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