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Yeater, James Thomas

Individual Personnel Data
Name Yeater, James Thomas   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37185385   ‡
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 Flexible Gunner / Togglier
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 9 April 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 29 July 1943 per General Orders #84, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Wing dated 10 August 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 4 June 1918
  • 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.
  • 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.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 3653⇓ (14.958 MB)
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 Markus⇗Ball Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Parks, Howard David⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Kelly, Leonard Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerEV
S/SGT. Yeater, James ThomasFlexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 22 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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30030⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30039⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3074⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Turned back when #2 engine failed. Supporting documents reveal that the crew received combat credit for this mission.
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29935⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead. Landed away at RAF Warmwell, Dorset, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite group, low Squadron lead,
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑39991⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31375⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, composite high group.
Sortie Report⇗
80⇗ 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97081⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97510⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1335 hrs over Molesworth because of smoke in bomb bay from unknown source. Landed away at Molesworth.
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31740⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group, Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97139. Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Togglier 42‑31740⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Hit by flak at 1546 hrs; left wing root on fire; the aircraft was seen circling under control and 10 chutes emerged; crashed east of Schleswig, Germany.
Sortie Report⇗

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