Billingsley, James Rudolph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Billingsley, James Rudolph, "Rude"
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 36068397
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.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - 482nd Bomb Group, effective 10 October 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 10 October 1943
Results Transferred
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 30 November 1920
  • Awarded a second oak leaf cluster to The Air Medal for shooting down an enemy aircraft on 17 August 1943.
  • From Duty to seven days Detached Service at American Red Cross Club, Southport (a flak house) effective 30 August 1943 per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 30 August 1943.
Related Documents Accident Report # 43-04-25-5⇓ (4.476 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Lecates, Robert Leslie⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Esty, Harvey Charles, "Butch"⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Warrilow, David Paul⇗NavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Farwell, Francis Raymond⇗BombardierTR
S/SGT. Jumper, George William⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
S/SGT. Ausmus, Leon Farrell⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
S/SGT. Billingsley, James Rudolph, "Rude"Ball Turret GunnerTR
S/SGT. Bowen, Frank Howard⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Lemmerman, Henry George⇗Flexible GunnerTR
S/SGT. Daudelin, Eldore Leo⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
-- 25 April 1943 None
Non-combat sortie 		Passenger 42‑30074⇗ Non-combat sortie, ferrying aircraft from Salinas, CA to Sioux City, IA. Landing gear would not extend: pilot made a wheels-up landing.
Sortie Report⇗
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Ball Turret 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Tail gunner's feet were frostbitten.
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑30142⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron Deputy. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30139. Turned back due to runaway prop on #1 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Ball Turret 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back after the loss of parts of oxygen system and #1 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29985⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back near enemy coast when #1 and #2 engines lost power and could not stay with formation.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29985⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron deputy. Returned early after #1 engine oil cooler sprung leak and lost power. Bombed a target of opportunity (TOO), an airfield in The Netherlands.
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 		Ball Turret 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3074⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Earls Colne, AAF Station 358, on return.
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Ball Turret 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Ball Turret 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑30196⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑30005. Landed away at RAF Wing, Buckinghamshire.
Sortie Report⇗

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