384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Baggs, Joseph William

Individual Personnel Data
Name Baggs, Joseph William
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / Major
Serial Number O-735155
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943.
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #129, effective 27 October 1943.
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #12, effective 18 January 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th RCD, Station 579, per Headquarters Detachment, 384th Bomb Group Morning Report dated 23 October 1944, effective 16 October 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 16 October 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 August 1920
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Williams Field, Mesa, Arizona AAF, Class #43-01, 2 January 1942.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days on or about 28 August 1943 to Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire (a Flak House) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #83 dated 27 August 1943.
  • Appointed Group Bombardier effective 12 October 1943 per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 13 October 1943.
  • VOCO of 5 November 1943 placing 1LT Baggs on Temporary Duty for approximately two days on or about 5 November 1943 to 8th Bomber Command, purpose Official Business is hereby confirmed and made of record per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #151 dated 23 November 1943.
  • Detailed as Group Bombardier of the 384th Bomb Group vice CAPTAIN CHARLES D. BONNETT, O-727080, AC, relieved per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #12 dated 18 January 1944.
  • Granted an eight day leave of absence effective on or about 22 March 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #47 dated 11 March 1944.
  • Placed on three days Temporary Duty to AAF Station 101 on or about 8 April 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #66 dated 7 April 1944.
  • Placed on one day Temporary Duty to London on 1 July 1944, purpose Official Business per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #125 dated 30 June 1944.
  • Granted a seven day leave of absence effective 6 August 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #150 dated 28 July 1944.
  • Placed on approximately two days Temporary Duty to AAF Station 586 on or about 31 July 1944, purpose ORS Activities per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #153 dated 31 July 1944.
  • Ordered on approximately two days Temporary Duty to London on or about 22 August 1944, purpose Official Business per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #169 dated 22 August 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Koch, William S, "Willie"⇗PilotTR
2nd Lt. Wollenweber, Herman, Jr⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Knowling, Edward Johnson⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Baggs, Joseph WilliamBombardierCT
S/SGT. Davis, Preston Allen⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Turlington, Howard Joe⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerEV
S/SGT. Wolven, William David, "Bill"⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Martin, Burnia ((NMI)⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Ordaz, Armando Noriega⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Rogers, Marion Coleman⇗Flexible GunnerKIA

Crew History

The Koch Crew joined the 547th BS on 11 March 1943. Johnny Butler took over this crew when it was found that Koch needed additional training before being qualified for overseas combat duty. They were identified as Crew #19 on the Special Orders assigning them to the 384th, and became Crew #78 (547th BS, 8th crew).

This crew flew to England together (Captain Dillingham took Herman Wollenweber's place, and Wollenweber flew as Selden McMillin's copilot), and flew many missions together. Eventually, pressures of combat caused changes to the crew, a common occurrence during wartime.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 27 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 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bombed primary target on wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. Landed away at Hornchurch, Essex, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑29768⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Difficulty controlling #4 engine and prop caused Butler to abort, after assembling his section.
Sortie Report⇗
33⇗ 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
36⇗ 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway 		Bombardier 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
49⇗ 4 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Bombardier 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97514⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG.
Sortie Report⇗
118⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
144⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France 		Bombardier 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Bombardier 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; wing lead. Air commander is Lt. Col. Calhoun Wing Leader, 41st CBW HQ.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st A Combat Wing lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
196⇗ 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
201⇗ 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship. Landed away in Brussels due to flak damage.
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
207⇗ 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Observer 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
First Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗

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