Drysdale, Douglas David

Individual Personnel Data
Name Drysdale, Douglas David   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 17106357   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #91 dated 16 May 1944, effective 16 May 1944.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 11 August 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsDistinguished Flying Cross for completion of 33 missions with the Eighth Air Force.
The Air Medal and 6 oak leaf clusters.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 25 February 1924
  • Douglas D. Drysdale flew 52 combat missions in the Mediterranean Theater as a Havoc A-20 Tail Gunner with the 86th Bomb Squadron, 47th Bomb Group in North Africa, Sicily & Italy prior to his assignment to the 384th Bomb Group.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-07-28-518⇓ (1.079 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Liebert, Jack Louis⇗PilotCT
1st Lt. Maxey, Jesse Edward, Jr⇗Co-pilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. May, Warren Francis, Jr⇗NavigatorKIA
2nd Lt. Haas, Jack Irvin⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Hrelja, Joseph Dominik⇗TogglierTR
S/SGT. Gray, James Ronald⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Fishbein, Alfred (NMI)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Wood, David Albert⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Drysdale, Douglas DavidTail GunnerCT
SGT. Goresh, Andrew (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 33 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
119⇗ 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland 		Tail Gunner 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
121⇗ 31 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Colmar, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102442⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
123⇗ 2 June 1944 Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Could not attack target due to defective bomb rack.
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102459⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37792.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
L Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑37792⇗ 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 		Tail Gunner 42‑97521⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
144⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
147⇗ 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st A section.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
158⇗ 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑6109⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, High Squadron Lead. Warren May (N) killed instantly by flak - see 'Jesse's Story' on the Stories page.
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy, Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑107148⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group deputy and hot camera ship. Turned back due to #4 supercharger failure. Right main landing gear collapsed following a hard landing. Aircraft was damaged but crew were not injured.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy, 41st D wing.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Deputy and Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Tail Gunner 44‑6294⇗ Combat Mission Credit
H Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
174⇗ 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France 		Tail Gunner 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Tail Gunner 44‑6135⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗

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