Harris, Arthur Claude

Individual Personnel Data
Name Harris, Arthur Claude   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-670732   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 1 December 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 8 October 1943 per General Orders #11, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 13 October 1943.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 12 December 1919
  • Granted a seven day sick leave on or about 15 September 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #95 dated 13 September 1943 rescinded on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #96 dated 14 September 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) The American Red Cross Club, Southport on or about 15 September 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #96 dated 14 September 1943.
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant effective 21 September 1943 per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 7 October 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1335⇓ (5.166 MB)
Accident Report # 43-06-12-502⇓ (29.679 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Witt, Francis John, Jr⇗PilotEV
Flt. Ofcr. Carter, T L (IO)⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Harris, Arthur ClaudeNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Derer, Joseph, Jr⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Sears, William Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Thomasson, Edward Arthmur⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Leslie, Claude Robert⇗Ball Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Douglas, Rufus James⇗Tail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Seager, Francis Marvin⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Vodilko, Michael Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 16 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
-- 12 June 1943 None
Non-combat sortie 		Navigator 42‑30131⇗ Involved in a collision with aircraft 42‑30036 on short final while landing at Grafton Underwood after a training mission. Pilot of 42‑30036 (2Lt Ellwood Kowalski) executed a pull-up maneuver upon observing red light from control tower and struck aircraft 42‑30131 which was just above. All five crew aboard Kowalski's aircraft were killed: crew aboard Lt Witt's aircraft survived uninjured. Aircraft 42‑30036 was not following established traffic pattern prior to collision.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Navigator 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Navigator 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 		Navigator 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 		Navigator 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 		Navigator 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Pilot and co-pilot wounded in legs by shrapnel.
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Navigator 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Navigator 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 		Navigator 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Navigator 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Navigator 42‑5849⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to #2 engine failure.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Navigator 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Snetterton Heath Airfield, AAF Station 138, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Navigator 42‑29814⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑3441⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Squadron of composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; deputy flight lead.
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 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 		Navigator 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am.
Sortie Report⇗

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