| Name | Blankenmeyer, William J |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant / Captain |
| Serial Number | O-760540 |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #155 dated 2 August 1944, effective 2 August 1944. |
| Duty | Pilot |
| MOS | 1091 - Pilot, B-17 |
| Last Duty Date | 12 April 1945 |
| Results | Completed Tour, Returned to USA |
| Additional Information | Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Furzedown House, AAF Station 563 (a Flak House) on 24 November 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #230 dated 21 November 1944. |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Blankenmeyer, William J | Pilot | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Fisher, Robert Jeremy⇗ | Co-pilot | CT |
| Flt. Ofcr. Obermeyer, Robert H⇗ | Navigator | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Kowalski, Theodore (NMI)⇗ | Bombardier | WIA |
| S/SGT. Fictum, Blair Eugene⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | CT |
| S/SGT. DeMesquita, Seymour Aron⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | CT |
| SGT. Work, Robert Elijah⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | CT |
| SGT. Hoyman, Robert H⇗ | Tail Gunner | TBD |
| SGT. Flaherty, Francis G⇗ | Flexible Gunner | TR |
| SGT. McDonald, Donald Thomas⇗ | Flexible Gunner | CT |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182⇗ | 18 August 1944 |
Target: Tactical: Bridge Type: Transportation Location: Vise, Belgium |
Co-pilot | 43‑38213⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 183⇗ | 24 August 1944 |
Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany |
Co-pilot | 43‑38062⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron deputy, high group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 184⇗ | 25 August 1944 |
Target: Airfield & Airpark Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Anklam, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑38213⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 187⇗ | 3 September 1944 |
Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑37703⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 188⇗ | 5 September 1944 |
Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Returned with #4 feathered. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 189⇗ | 8 September 1944 |
Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Pilot | 44‑6141⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back due to #1 supercharger failure. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 190⇗ | 9 September 1944 |
Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑97320⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 191⇗ | 10 September 1944 |
Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant Type: Industry Location: Sindelfingen, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑38062⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron. Returned with #4 feathered. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 194⇗ | 13 September 1944 |
Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 196⇗ | 19 September 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Hamm, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑37703⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Lead Squadron. Landed away at Woodbridge, reason unknown. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 198⇗ | 25 September 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑97282⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit C Wing, lead group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 199⇗ | 26 September 1944 |
Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Osnabrück, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑97282⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 200⇗ | 27 September 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points) Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑97282⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Landed with wounded aboard. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 201⇗ | 28 September 1944 |
Target: Steelworks Type: Industry Location: Magdeburg, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑39888⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Left formation after target for unknown reasons, but returned to base. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 208⇗ | 9 October 1944 |
Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑107125⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 209⇗ | 11 October 1944 |
Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Wesseling, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑38016⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Third Squadron deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 211⇗ | 15 October 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑38016⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 215⇗ | 25 October 1944 |
Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑98027⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Fourth Squadron lead. PFF ship. Deputy's Gee-H failed during assembly, so the Squadron lead conducted a PFF attack on the secondary target. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 220⇗ | 5 November 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑102661⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 223⇗ | 9 November 1944 |
Target: Ground Installations Type: Military Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France |
Pilot | 42‑107125⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Deputy division lead. Gee-H ship. Led group on bomb run. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 225⇗ | 11 November 1944 |
Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑102501⇗ |
Weather aircraft. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 226⇗ | 16 November 1944 |
Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions Type: Military Location: Eschweiler, Germany |
Pilot | 44‑8008⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit PFF ship; low Squadron lead, 41st Bomb Wing A group. Landed away at Stratford, due to weather. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 237⇗ | 9 December 1944 |
Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany |
Pilot | 44‑8008⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 243⇗ | 24 December 1944 |
Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Kirch Göns, Germany |
Pilot | 43‑38262⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit 41C Group Deputy. Gee-H ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 245⇗ | 28 December 1944 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Brühl, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑97986⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead. PFF ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 250⇗ | 3 January 1945 |
Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: St Vith, Belgium |
Pilot | 43‑38850⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Group deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 256⇗ | 17 January 1945 |
Target: Railroad Viaduct Type: Transportation Location: Bielefeld, Germany |
Pilot | 44‑8211⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Division lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. PFF started acting up during assembly, so the air commander ordered the low Squadron lead (PFF-equipped) to move up and fly as his deputy. At the IP, the Gee-H equipment was unusable, so lead was turned over to the deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 259⇗ | 22 January 1945 |
Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery Type: Oil Industry Location: Sterkrade, Germany |
Pilot | 42‑38208⇗ |
Weather aircraft. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 261⇗ | 28 January 1945 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany |
Commander | 44‑8007⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead; PFF and Gee-H ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 266⇗ | 14 February 1945 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Dresden, Germany |
Commander | 44‑8665⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Returned Early High Squadron lead; PFF ship. Returned early after entering enemy airspace, because right waist and bombardier's oxygen regulators 'blew up'. Attacked a target of opportunity, a factory, in Nordhorn, Germany. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 274⇗ | 25 February 1945 |
Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory Type: Industry Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany |
Commander | 44‑8211⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead; PFF and Gee-H ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 279⇗ | 2 March 1945 |
Target: Low Temperature Carbonization Plant and Refinery of Deutsche Petroleum A.G. Type: Oil Industry Location: Rositz, Germany |
Commander | 44‑8649⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead; PFF ship. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 299⇗ | 28 March 1945 |
Target: Berlin/Spandau Motor Transport Works Type: Industry Location: Spandau (Berlin), Germany |
Pilot | 43‑38974⇗ |
Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified Sortie Report⇗ |
| 301⇗ | 31 March 1945 |
Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Lützkendorf, Germany |
Commander | 44‑8541⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit High Squadron lead. Sortie Report⇗ |