Miller, Loring Corwin

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Miller, Loring Corwin ‡ ⇗
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Serial Number	39840477 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #365 dated 31 December 1942, effective 31 December 1942.
Duty	Flexible Gunner
MOS	611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date	18 August 1943
Results	Wounded In Action
Decorations	Awarded the Silver Star for 'gallantry in action' during a mission over Germany on 17 August 1943. Awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 17 August 1943 per General Orders #91, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Wing dated 23 August 1943.
Citation For Higher Decoration	SILVER STAR. LORING CORWIN MILLER,39840477, Staff Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For gallantry in action, while serving as right waist gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany, 17 August 1943. Prior to reaching the target, Sergeant Miller was seriously wounded and knocked down when his aircraft sustained a direct flak hit. Though suffering severe pain, he courageously returned to his gun and assisted in fighting off determined attacks by enemy fighters. Refusing help, he remained at his gun until the pilot ordered the radio operator to administer first aid to him. The gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Miller on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Home address: Stockton, California. Citation Source: 'As Briefed...'
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 11 May 1913 Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, on SO #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance. Transferred in grade to the Detachment of Patients, 30th General Hospital, APO 514 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #124 dated 21 October 1943.
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
546^th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Algar, Philip Morris⇗	Pilot	CT
Flt. Ofcr. Wolf, Richard Vance⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Celentano, Frank A⇗	Navigator	CT
2nd Lt. McClanahan, James Clifton⇗	Bombardier	TR
SGT. Gerow, Francis (NMI)⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	CT
SGT. Laviolette, Roland Bernard⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	CT
PVT. McKay, Kenneth Mitchel, Jr⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	CT
SGT. Schimenek, John Francis⇗	Tail Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Majewski, Casmer Robert⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Miller, Loring Corwin	Flexible Gunner	WIA

Crew History

The Algar Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 546th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 61" (crew #1 of the 546th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Wolf and Schimenick joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.
It would appear this crew remained intact during stateside training, and went into combat together, flying all missions until late July without changes. Thereafter, mission demands led to frequent substitutions, although many crew members continued flying together until the ends of their tours.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗	22 June 1943	Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back after windshield motor burned out and cockpit filled with smoke, causing the pilot to lose contact with the formation. Sortie Report⇗
3⇗	26 June 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
7⇗	10 July 1943	Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
8⇗	14 July 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
10⇗	25 July 1943	Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
11⇗	28 July 1943	Target: Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑3259⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
13⇗	30 July 1943	Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group lead. Sortie Report⇗
14⇗	12 August 1943	Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead Squadron #2 position. 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	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑3440⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report⇗
17⇗	17 August 1943	Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑3455⇗	Combat Mission Credit S/Sgt. Loring Miller, right waist gunner, awarded Silver Star (As Briefed, p. 198). Sortie Report⇗

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