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Darling, Gale Lewis

Individual Personnel Data
Name Darling, Gale Lewis   
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 17165013   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #78 dated 26 April 1944, effective 26 April 1944.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 4 August 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 6 March 1923
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #99 dated 28 May 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Van Every, Russell MeredithPilotCT
2nd Lt. Anderson, Robert GCo-pilotTR
2nd Lt. Nelson, Dale DunlopNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Simmons, Clifford JamesBombardierCT
S/SGT. Jelmberg, George OlofRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Darling, Gale LewisEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. D'Apice, Elmer LouieBall Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Doohan, Hugh AnthonyTail GunnerCT
SGT. D'Amico, Mario GabrielFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. DeMilia, Joseph LouisFlexible GunnerTR

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
100 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102442 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, lead group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
102 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group. Turned back with low manifold pressure in #2 & #4 engines.
Sortie Report
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Took off on three engines and had only 35 inches manifold pressure on #1 engine; turned back north of Kettering when #1 cylinder head blew out and engine had to be feathered.
Sortie Report
107 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97309 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
108 15 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102566.
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy. Assumed Squadron Lead when assigned lead aborted.
Sortie Report
113 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
114 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
115 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97309 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
41A Group.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
118 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102442 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
121 31 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Colmar, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
124 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37792 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead Group Flying Spare. Returned as briefed.
Sortie Report
127 6 June 1944 Target: Rocket Gun Installation
Type: Military
Location: 'Meuvaines' (actually, 1.3 miles SE of Crépon), France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
131 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97309 Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97309 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31484 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Alconbury, AAF Station 102, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
140 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
149 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
152 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Blanc Pignon Ferme, Cléty, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6147 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102518 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; returned to base.
Sortie Report
154 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37717 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
155 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37717 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group.
Sortie Report
156 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97178 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
163 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
165 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6135 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
166 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97941 Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report
167 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97941 Combat Mission Credit
High composite group lead, 41st D wing.
Sortie Report
168 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97941 Combat Mission Credit
High Group Lead.
Sortie Report
169 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France
Engineer/Top Turret 43‑37917 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
172 4 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Engineer/Top Turret 42‑107125 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report

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