O'Donnell, William John

Individual Personnel Data
Name	O'Donnell, William John ‡ ⇗
Rank	Private / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number	33324361 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 Extract dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943. Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - HQ & HQ Squadron,1st CCRC Group, AAF 112 , effective 2 December 1943.
Duty	Flexible Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner
MOS	757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date	2 December 1943
Results	Transferred
Decorations	Awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received on 25 July 1943 per General Orders #84, Headquarters 1st Bomb Wing dated 10 August 1943. Awarded the Air Medal for completing five missions.
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 18 December 1921 Transferred overseas (via Army Air Base Presque Isle, Maine) on Army Air Base HQ Kearney, Nebraska Special Orders #96 dated 17 May 1943. Promoted from PFC to Corporal on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #107 dated 1 October 1943. Promotion to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 special Orders #158 dated 3 December 1943 rescinded per paragraph 1, AAF Station 106 Special Orders#160 dated 5 December 1943.
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384^th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Estes, Thomas Jefferson⇗	Pilot	CT
Flt. Ofcr. Merritt, James Melvin⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. DuBois, John Jay⇗	Navigator	CT
2nd Lt. Davis, David Harold⇗	Bombardier	CT
S/SGT. Wagner, Fred S⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	POW
S/SGT. Cochran, David Leon⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	CT
SGT. Ursta, George (NMI)⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	CT
S/SGT. McDuffie, Burton Curtis⇗	Tail Gunner	CT
PVT. O'Donnell, William John	Flexible Gunner	TR
S/SGT. Self, James Melvin, Jr⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT

Crew History

The Estes Crew joined the 544th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #2" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #43" in the squadron.
Before moving to England, McDuffie was temporarily replaced by S/Sgt John V Selgo. McDuffie rejoined the crew in time for its first mission on 25 June 1943. The crew stayed unusually intact during its tour, and all completed their combat tour of duty except for Wagner, who fell unconscious from the bomb bay on 4 January 1944 while trying to free the bomb bay doors which were stuck open. Wagner regained consciousness, opened his 'chute and was captured upon landing, spending the rest of the war as a POW.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 8 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑3188⇗	Combat Mission Credit Bombed an unknown city. Sortie Report⇗
3⇗	26 June 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30073⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back when #3 engine failed off the coast of France. Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30030⇗	Combat Mission Credit Wing Deputy and High Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30073. Sortie Report⇗
5⇗	29 June 1943	Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30073⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead Squadron, Group Lead. Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑3330⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30073. Sortie Report⇗
8⇗	14 July 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑5883⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead, group deputy. Sortie Report⇗
9⇗	24 July 1943	Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants Type: Industry Location: Herøya, Norway	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑5883⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group lead. Sortie Report⇗
10⇗	25 July 1943	Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany	Ball Turret	42‑5883⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron Lead. Damaged by flak and fighters, ditched in the North Sea. Rescued by a Danish fishing boat; returned to duty. Sortie Report⇗
16⇗	16 August 1943	Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑5444⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗

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