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Boomhower, William (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name Boomhower, William (NMI)   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-735164   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 1 December 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
Additional Information
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Williams Field, Mesa, Arizona, Class #43-01, 2 January 1942.
  • 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 seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) to 8th Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire on or about 15 October 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #95 dated 13 September 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1335⇓ (5.166 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Riches, George William⇗PilotKIA
Flt. Ofcr. Waugh, Colby Arthur⇗Co-pilotTR
2nd Lt. Irwin, Donald Jesse⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Boomhower, William (NMI)BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Penney, Freeman Seth, "Buzz"⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Anderson, Bernard Herman⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Smith, Guy Edwin⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Lavoie, Ralph Edmund⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Martin, Stanley Schoffield⇗Tail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Waller, William Theodore⇗Flexible GunnerKIA
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 9 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because they couldn't keep up with formation; detonation suspected.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3104 which was flown by the Sierens Crew.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over Yarmouth; could not reach altitude or keep up with formation; lower turret was out and top turret Vickers unit was 'vaporizing' (?).
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Pilot and co-pilot wounded in legs by shrapnel.
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Bombardier 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Bombardier 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3259⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead; Ground Spare Aircraft (545th BS), replaced 42‑3441; turned back due to pilot illness.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am.
Sortie Report⇗

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