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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
  • 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a seven day sick leave on or about 15 September 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #95 dated 13 September 1943 rescinded on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #96 dated 14 September 1943.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 October 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #96 dated 14 September 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, JrPilotEV
Flt. Ofcr. Carter, T L (IO)Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Harris, Arthur ClaudeNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Derer, Joseph, JrBombardierPOW
S/SGT. Sears, William FrancisRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Thomasson, Edward ArthmurEngineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Leslie, Claude RobertBall Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Douglas, Rufus JamesTail GunnerTR
S/SGT. Seager, Francis MarvinFlexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Vodilko, Michael JosephFlexible 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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